HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-07-23, Page 54•
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The Steckle with the green thumb
By Shelley McPhee-Haist
When you arrive at the 1rundson Line
you're in Steckle country. More than 10
Steckle families live along the mile -and -a -
quarter stretch here. Names on the
mailboxes tell the story.
Steckle is well known name in this part of
the woods as well as beyond the boundaries
of Stanley Township. They're known as
farmers, conununity people, politicians,
and exceptional gardeners.
David Steckle wears the green thumb in
Dave and Carol Steckle are the green thumbers of Stanley Township. What began as a
hobby in 1973 has become a major business - more than 35,000 square feet of greenhouses,
known as Huron Ridge Acres. (Shelley McPhee-Haist photo)
the family. He, his wife Carol and their
three children own Huron Ridge Acres.
Huron Ridge Acres is more than a pretty
name for the land, which is known as one of
the original Steckle farms. Located at Lot 7,
Concession 13, this farm is home to one of
the largest greenhouses and nurseries in
Huron County.
What began as 2,000 square feet of
greenhouse space in 1973 has now grown to
more than' ,35,000 square feet. As well the
Steckle&have a thriving nursery, fruit crops
including peaches, strawberries and cher-
ries, as well as garden produce.
The balance of the acreage on this
111 -acre farm is rented out.
"We had dabbled in all kinds of farming,"
Dave said.
Dairy farmers in the earlier years, Dave
always had a passion for growing things. At
the age of 16 he convinced his father to plant
50 peach trees. From that point on the
business began to blossom.
Today Dave firmly states, "I don't want
any animals around here. They have to be
fed seven days a week."
Still, the job of market gardener is no easy
one. In fact, in the spring months watering
plants is a fulitime job in itself.
The business is a family affair, with Dave
overseeing the actual growth and produc-
tion, Carol in charge of the accounts and ad-
ministration and the children each playing
their role in the work. Kevin, 18, works with
his father and this fall will study hor-
ticulture and field cropping at Ridgetown
College. Karen, 16, is interested in the ad-
m&nistrative end of the business. Sandra, 11,
helps where she is needed, particularly with
watering.
"On a hot sunny afternoon at the end of
May all the children can be found at the end
of a hose," Carol reports.
What began as a sideline hobby for Dave
Steckle has turned into big business. Huron
Ridge Acres employs two fulitime workers,
five ,to six part time helpers and a truck
driver for deliveries.
As well as having a retail outlet at the
farm, Huron Ridge Acres is also a major
wholesale supplier to more than 25 stores
and 'market stands from as far as Brussels
to Bryanston. Some 50 per cent of the
greenhouse stock is sold on a wholesale
basis. fatal to the fry.
The fry are kept in the upwelling box for
two to three weeks until their egg sac, which
is used as a food supply, is used up.
"Once they lose the egg sac they are put in
large, clean plastic pails, and put by
members into the few clean streams left
that go into the Bayfield River," Mr. Uniac
said.
He e4dINI will remain in the small
streams for oximately two years, until
they are seven or eight inches long, and will
then move down the Bayfield River to Lake
Huron.
According to Mr. Uniac, "They remain in
the lake for two years, then return to the
stream they were put in. They come back to
spawn; it's the beginning of another cycle."
Since moving the upwelling box to Mr.
Hill's farm, and using this method of raising
the trout, they have had success.
In 1984 they began with 80,000' eggs, and
ended up with 75,000 fry, in 1985 they had
103,000 eggs and came out with 80,000 fry,
but 1986 has been their most successful
year.
"In 1986 we had 57,000 eggs and ended up
with 52,000 excellent fish," Mr. Uniac said.
"We figured as a result of this that we will
get, by far, the best fish with less eggs."
Mr. Uniac voiced disgust with those who
• catch the trout in the small streams,
because there is no sport involved, but add-
ed that the Anglers' work is bringing some
real fishermen to the area.
"This brings fishermen from all over
south western Ontario in the spring and
fall," he said.
Back a sid oad in the depths of Stanley
Township ma, not seem the ideal location
for a,retail bgsiness, but Carol reports, "We
may be off the beaten track, but people find
us. They come back year lifter year."
Huron Ridge Acres offers an impressive
variety of plants, including more than 100
varieties of annual and perennial flowers.
"We grow at least 40 different kinds of
name petunias alone," Dave says.
Dave's speciality is geraniums. He finds
that cutting geraniums are more popular
than seed geraniums.
Five years ago Dave planted his first
nursery stock, and at this point the trees an
shrubs have reached the stage of maturi
where they are saleable. Evergreen shrubs
and shade trees can be purchased at Huron
Ridge Acres. 7,
"Every spring people wonder what we'll
do with all our plants. In a month the
greenhouses, are half -empty," Carol says.
While most of the greenhouses are empty
now and the strawberry crop is finished,
peach season is coming up. Huron Ridge
Acres has some 500 peach trees, as well as
375 new trees.
When peach and cherry season is over,
garden produce is ready. In the fall on
Saturday mornings the Steckle family head
for Stratford by 5 a.m. to set up their booth
at the Farmers' Market.
And August brings on thoughts of
Christmas for Dave Steckle as thousands of
poinsettia seeds are sown in preparation for
the winter flower crop.
As the years go by and their reputation
grows, the Dave and Carol Steckle family
are becoming known far and wide for their
green thumb expertise and Huron Ridge
Acres is proving to be • a successful
enterprise.
Trout fis
hing
on the
Bayfield...
• from page 6
the Malachite treatment stops because it is
WE SALUTE STANLEY TOWNSHIP
E
JOHN HART ARL HAMM
SAVE on NEW and USED CARS and TRUCKS
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