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Times-Advocate, 1996-01-31, Page 5I Fllson_& Robson FULLY LICENSED & BONDED, CALL OR FAX (519) 666-0833 3 Auctioneers for the Price of 1 With modern equipment Pickup and sell complete or partial estates Specializing In Farm, Real Estate and General Sales ieW.104.11LULVALYACILIIAthfati By Rosi Haigh from the archives of the Exeter Times Advocate 10 YEARS AGO January 29, 1986 = Though s go member of the South ]Hu- .con Medical Association ex- tra -bills now or has done so in the past. all are prepared to leave OHIP as a symbol of their displeasure with the l vincial government's smiled* intention to make extra-billiigg'; illegal. SMHA spokesman Dr. Pe- ter En$kni said his colleagues all strotigly favor medicare but feel both doctors and pa- tients should have the Choice of whether or not to partici- pate without being penalized. Congratulations 10114 year- old Scott Merner-of ZUrich who won first prize in a horse riding competition foebarrel racing at a weekendtpw near Toronto. "•" Y` 25 YEARSAfi) February 4, 1971 - The area continues to dig out from one of the worst blizzards on record and indications are it will be some time yet before the area is back to normal. Township Central schools re- opened Wednesday, but many students were still missing as school buses couldn't navi- gate several roads making it six consecutive school days without bus service. One group that needs spe- cial thanks are the many snowmobilers who actually risked their lives in getting much needed food to arca school students and rescuing a number of stranded people. Exeter police chief Ted Day remarked, "They saved the day." 35 YEARS AGO January 29, 1961 - Ralph Hicks, former owner of Exet- er Frozen Foods was recently named secretary of the Grand Bend and Area Chamber of Commerce. Susan Dinney and George Godbolt topped the field of 26 competitors to win first prizes in the annual junior public speaking contest staged at SHDHS Thursday. 40 YEARS AGO . 'i January 31, 1956- The Exet- er branch of the Canadian Le- gion voted Thursday night to go ahead with plans to build a $25,000 addition to the Memo- rial Hall on William street. Betty Brady was elected president of "Juke Box Cor- � ners", Exeter's new teenage club at the organizational meeting in the arena this week. Recreation director Doug Smith conducted the election. At a dinner meeting in Sea - forth Saturday evening, 80 rep- resentatives of various centres in the South Huron riding met to discuss the organizing of a Women's Progressive Conser- vative Association. 50 YEARS AGO Juituary 30, 1946 - Flight Lieutenants Jack Anderson. Crediton and M.H. Hammond, Kirkton were included in the King's New Year's Honor List for distinguished service with the R.C.A. F. Mr. Gerald Smith who has been a barber at Crediton, has entered into partnership with Mr. Garnet Flynn. Gerald learned his trade in Michigan and worked in Toronto for a number of years. Douglas Brintncll who has been with the Canadian navy has arrived home from Halifax and will be on leave for two weeks before receiving his dis- charge. Mr. W. Roy Goulding of Talbot Street Baptist Church in London has been elected to the executive of the London Cen- tre. Canadian College of Or- ganists. 75 YEARS AGO January 31, 1921 - The Exet- er -Zurich hockey team did not survive the round in the home and home games of the North- ern Hockey League with Strat- ford. losing the game in Strat- ford Thursday evening last by a score of 6-2 Mr. Russell who has recently returned to Ontario from the West has bought Mr. Alex Dow's farm in town. 100 YEARS AGO January 30, 1896 - Mr. Ham- ilton in Grand Bend is thinking of starting up his mill as he has quite a stock of logs and a lot of the stock being ties. He can get them drawn cheaper now han in the busier season. C. Snell at the Exeter Pack- ing House reports that prices of pork are now low and he has fresh every day a good supply of spare ribs sausage, tender- loins, head cheese, pigs feet shanks and cuttings. II' IT'S YOUR '11SII\TFSS �upie planning to expand organic farm Brenda Ifurke T -A staff AILSA CRAIG - I didn't see any other way of , farming that would make sense to me,.' said Alex Nurnberg, of Sunnivue Farm, when ' ; '-. why he chose to farm y. Poe I ',past four years, he and his wife, ; • r, have produced organ- ic veg bits, pork, beef and bread Oil their 180 acre farm just south of Ailsa Craig. The farm is held in trust under R.O.S:E. (Redeeming Our Soil Economically), a land care association. The Numbergs also belong to the OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association), a world-wide or- ganization they register with an- nually that sets organic growing standards. "Last year, for the first time," said Alex, "we had the whole farm certified (organic)." The couple's dairy herd, now numbering 14, will be certified or- ganic within the next three years. Their animals, including pigs occa- sionally bought from a Durham arca farm that raises them without chemicals, are kept healthy without antibiotics, growth hormones and fly sprays. Because the couple is just be- ginning to grow winter rye as well as mixed grain in the spring to feed their herd, they won't have to con- tinue ordering conventional grain. They've been unable to order or- ganic food for their livestock due to its expense and lack of availability. According to Alex, who said he and Ellinor hope to increase their herd by 16, it takes eight years to build healthy stock through breed- ing. Ellinore conducts her own in- semination process and works closely with the livestock, talking to them and training them. "You mainly have to do it with the little ones," said Alex, "and it pays off for the next 10 years." Although land may be certified organic within three years, Alex be- lieves it, takes an extra five years to get crops,ri4 shape+; T q first. year of, farming without chemicals is not difficult, he explained, due to the high mix of fertilizers that re- main in the soil. In an effort to help their land re- turn to its natural state, the couple had seeded most of thcir acreage with hay. An option available to them was to grow food immedi- ately after moving to their farm, but they declined. partly because they were not yet certified. Besides, growing too soon, Alex pointed out. would lower yield's and !cad to weed problems. The second and third' years of working with the land, a time to break down weed cycles, presents more of a challenge than the first year. "You gradually, gradually begin to understand what the soil needs," explained Alex, adding it takes time of "watching, smelling, tast- ing," to get the product as healthy as possible. Instead of relying on herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and synthetic fertilizers, the Nurnbergs avoid dis- ease and pests through crop rota- tion and mixed growing. "We try to plant plants that en- hance each other," said Ellinor. For example, three rows of car- rots will be seeded alongside three rows of onions. "They keep away each other's pests," said Alex. "There's an on- ion maggot that (doesn't) like the smell of carrots." Although beans and cabbage are not compatible when grown side by side, they flourish when planted in rotation since bean supply nitro- gen for cabbage. Nearly all of Sunnivue Farm's potatoes, carrots, beets, onions and other small-scale varieties are sold wholesale. The crops have ex panded from four acres to 20. Be- cause they lack vegetable storage, the Numbcrgs deal with an organic wholesaler near Kitchener as well as with London markets. "London is a fairly big city with a very small organic market," said Alex. While the price of potatoes, car- rots, beets and onions has remained fairly consistent over the past few years, romaine lettuce, on the other hand, has proved disappointing. When Alex and Ellinor tried to grow the lettuce last spring, its price dropped from $32 to $7 with- in two weeks. They plan to expand .their crop variety and build a market at their farm, which will also supply bread made with organic flour, the rye they plan to grow, honey, salt a.nd: justienot+gh.yeast. to .epsure.riiing.. when needed. "The honey and salt dough rises by itself," said Ellinore. They now sell 1,800 loaves each year to a London bread market. Ellinore sees organic farming as a "mental consciousness" rather than a social trend. Buying as few prod- uct ingredients as possible from outside their operation. avoiding chemicals and nurturing an attitude that cares for the land, arc integral steps believes Alex. to true organic farming. "You try to make things as Times -Advocate, January 31, 1996 Page 5 healthy as possible," said Ellinore. "You try to make health in the soil." "You don't have a moral right to say 'It's my land and I'll do with it what I want to,"' said Alex. who stressed the importance of passing on healthy land to next generations, a belief based on native tradition. "People keep looking at the pric- es (of organic food) and they say, `You're way too expensive,' but they're not looking at the real costs," he explained, adding some organic produce is less expensive than non-organic varieties. The pro- duction of cheaper food, he feels, usually involves animal suffering as well as chemical use. The couple's farming business is harmless to the environment, right down to the cleaning products. In place of detergent and chlorine, synthetic -free yucca plant products and hydrogen -peroxide have kept bacteria levels at record lows. Be- cause peroxide is inexpensive and only small amounts of yucca clean- ing products are required to do the job, the Nurnbergs find their clean- ing costs are lower or the same as those of other farmers. Alex and Ellinore attempt to ed- ucate people about organic farming by inviting students to their farm for a few days at a time. They sec the industry as gaining popularity gradually. Although it's a good time to ex- port due to a weak Canadian dollar, said Alex, marketing organic prod- ucts often leads to distribution problems. Transporting long dis- tances makes it difficult for small organic farms to compete with larg- er farms such as those that have re- cently cropped up in the United States, taking advantage of longer growing seasons. But according to Ellinore, "the environmental concerns made it easier for the few organic farms," to succeed. GIC / RSP 1 Yr. - 5.25% 3Yr. -6.00% 5 yr. . 6.25% Alex and Elllnore Nurnberg operate a 180 acre organic farm near Ailsa Craig where they produce beef, pork, bread and veggtables. Within the next three years, their dairy herd, which they hope to increase to include 30 cows, will be certified or- ganic. Their crops, which are now certified, have expanded from four acnes to 20 In the four years the couple has had the farm. BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUCTIONEERS Advertise here and watch your business grow Bob Heywood Ucensed Auctioneer Serving Exeter area for 10 years Large Auction Centre at 586 Main St. S. We will consign anything you want to sell or we will buy outright for cash. Complete auction Service Contact Bob Res. 235-0874, Bus. 2354469 REPAIRS Sewing Machine Repairs to all makes . Free estimates 90 Day Warranty Experienced since 1952 Sew and Save Centre Ltd. 149 Downie St., Stratford Phone 271-9660 CUSTOMER RELATIONS: TEN COMMANDMENTS TO ABIDE BY: .At the start of the new year, get things on the right track by reviewing customer relations with all your staff who deal or customers. From front office personnel to sales staff and everyone in between who speaks or deals with your paying customers should be encouraged to follow these Ten Commandments: 1., The customer is never an interruption to your work. The customer is your real reason for being in business. Chores can wait! 2. Greet every customer with a friendly smile. Customers are people and they like friendly contact. They usually return it. 3. Call customers by 'name. Make a game of learning customers names. See how many you can remember. This is a valuable habit. 4. Remember - you are the company! In the customer's eyes, you are as important as the president of your company, probably even more so. 5. Never argue with a customer. The customer is always right (in his/ her eyes). Be a good listener, agree with the customer when you can and then do what you can to make that person happy. 6. Never say "I don't know." If you don't know the answer to a customer's question, say, That's a good question. Let me find out for you." 7. Remember that the customer pays your wages. Every dollar you earn comes from the customer's pocket. Treat that person like your boss. That person signs your paycheck. 8. State things in a positive way. Choose positive words when speaking to a customer. It takes practice, but it is a valuable habit that will help you become an effective communicator. 9. Brighten your customer's day. Make if a point to do something that brings a little sunshine into each customer's life and soon you'll discover that your own life is happier and brighter! 10. Go the extra mile. Always do just a little more than the customer expects you to. You will be rightly rewarded for this habit. brought to you by A HAY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING The 121st Annual Meeting of the Hay Mutual Insurance Company will be held in the Zurich Community Centre, Zurich, on Tuesday the 27th day of February, 1996 at 2:00 P.M., for the presentation of the Annual Report, to elect three Directors and to transact all business as may be done at a General Meeting of the policyholders. The Directors whose term of office expire are Ian McAllister, Zurich and Carl Turnbull, Dashwood, both of whom are eligible for re- election, Please Note: Paragraph No. 21 (d) of the By - Laws Qualifications of Directors "Any Person wishing to seek election or re-election as a Director must file his intention to stand for election in writing with the Secretary of the Corporation at least ten days In advance of an Annual Meeting or Special General Meeting called for the purpose of electing Directors." President,.Carl Turnbull — Secretary -Manager, John R. Consitt BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUCTIONEERS Advertise here and watch your business grow Bob Heywood Ucensed Auctioneer Serving Exeter area for 10 years Large Auction Centre at 586 Main St. S. We will consign anything you want to sell or we will buy outright for cash. Complete auction Service Contact Bob Res. 235-0874, Bus. 2354469 REPAIRS Sewing Machine Repairs to all makes . Free estimates 90 Day Warranty Experienced since 1952 Sew and Save Centre Ltd. 149 Downie St., Stratford Phone 271-9660 CUSTOMER RELATIONS: TEN COMMANDMENTS TO ABIDE BY: .At the start of the new year, get things on the right track by reviewing customer relations with all your staff who deal or customers. From front office personnel to sales staff and everyone in between who speaks or deals with your paying customers should be encouraged to follow these Ten Commandments: 1., The customer is never an interruption to your work. The customer is your real reason for being in business. Chores can wait! 2. Greet every customer with a friendly smile. Customers are people and they like friendly contact. They usually return it. 3. Call customers by 'name. Make a game of learning customers names. See how many you can remember. This is a valuable habit. 4. Remember - you are the company! In the customer's eyes, you are as important as the president of your company, probably even more so. 5. Never argue with a customer. The customer is always right (in his/ her eyes). Be a good listener, agree with the customer when you can and then do what you can to make that person happy. 6. Never say "I don't know." If you don't know the answer to a customer's question, say, That's a good question. Let me find out for you." 7. Remember that the customer pays your wages. Every dollar you earn comes from the customer's pocket. Treat that person like your boss. That person signs your paycheck. 8. State things in a positive way. Choose positive words when speaking to a customer. It takes practice, but it is a valuable habit that will help you become an effective communicator. 9. Brighten your customer's day. Make if a point to do something that brings a little sunshine into each customer's life and soon you'll discover that your own life is happier and brighter! 10. Go the extra mile. Always do just a little more than the customer expects you to. You will be rightly rewarded for this habit. brought to you by A