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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-08-20, Page 1110 Times -Advocate Wednesday, August 20, 2008 ABCA and landowners co-operate for environment By Pat Bolen TIMES ADVOCATE STAFF SEAFORTH — From water to windmills, local enviromental projects on local farms were on dis- play Aug. 13 during the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Agricultural Media Day. Among the properties on the tour were the Leeming farm on Front Road near Seaforth; the Klaver farm near Brucefield; the farm of Jim Ginn near Goderich; the Scott Property near Belgrave; Bill and Ann Phelan of Holmesville and Rub Stute of Brussels. Carol Leeming and her husband Rob have farmed 100 acres since 1987 and have 36,000 hens. Among the environmen- tal projects the Leemings have undertaken are extensive tree plantings as well as a septic replacement that was done through the Healthy Futures Program. The Leemings have also installed a windmill for $200,000 that is name - plated for 80 kilowatts and is almost able to off- set the energy needs of the Leeming's barn. The Leemings have an environmental farm plan and have planted trees every year. "They become your friends," says Carole, who adds trees planted close to the house are also energy saving devices. John and Caroline Klavers, along with their children Evan, Isaac, Natalie and Alex have run a dairy farm of 40 cows since 1985. After a 2004 fire on the farm, the Klavers took the opportunity during the rebuild to add several features to protect water sources such as reducing yard runoff and a water recycling system in the dairy barn. ABCA stewardship and conservation lands super- visor Kate Monk said the Klavers have done a good job in other areas such as windbreaks with trees and protection of a well- head in the farm yard. "It's top notch," said Monk. "I like to keep it in good shape," said John of his farm. "The conservation authority is always help- ful and informative." At the farm of Jim Ginn, Ginn, a member of the Bayfield North Watersheds committee and Ben Van Diepenbeek, chairperson of the Huron Clean Water Project (HCWP) review commit- tee, spoke about various projects in Huron County that are ongoing and upcoming. Van Diepenbeek said the HCWP is entering its fourth year and has seen over 600 projects com- pleted in Huron County to protect water quality with a value of over $2 million. "It's a carrot to get things going," he said. Part of the program are septic inspections and Van Diepenbeek said it provides grants of $75 for pump outs of septic sys- tems. He added that as of next year, there will be mandatory inspections of the 14,000 septic systems in Huron County. Ginn said the approach for the Bayfield North Watershed plan started with staff asking landowners "what do you want us to do," rather than academic studies from the top down. The area was divided into five watersheds that each had a public meet- ing for input with between 80 and 90 landowners attending, which is around 25 per cent of the landowners in the area, with about half of the participants agri- cultural landowners. Among the recommen- dations that will be car- ried out are a beach clean-up day Sept. 13 and a woodlot management tour Sept. 27 as well as environmental property plan workshops. With five wetlands on it, Murray Scott says he AO' always thought his prop- erty was unique but with sloping land that caused a lot of runoff into a stream on the property, Scott said he could see problems coming. Through the Healthy Headwaters Wetlands Initiative, the Scott prop- erty has seen a variety of work done. The projects include building berms to control and channel water as well as an experimental nitrate filter system, that Scott says is basically a hole full of woodchips that takes nitrates out of the water. "My goal is to show that everyone can have their cake and eat it too," says Scott. "If we're going to farm we need water and drains, we need to find a balance...it's very costly and we need to look to other partners." Future generations —Among the families took part in the Aug. 13 Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority Agricultural Media Day were above from left, Evan, Isaac, Natalie and John Klavers with below, Ann and Bill Phelan. (photos/Pat Bolen) who I� oturn t (I'I m� JkRUtWLTIQJI bail ABCA programs — Above Jim Ginn and Ben Van Diepenbeek were at Ginn's farm near Goderich and discussed the Huron Clean Water Project and the Bayfield North Watersheds committee. Below,Wilma and Murray Scott have been working to preserve the wetlands on their property near Belgrave. (photos/Pat Bolen) • 41, 1 ireencnver C,Y 113.9 OEM °NITRATION PROSECT PROOF- DE DEMONSTRATION Responsible owners — Carole Leeming shows some of the trees that have been planted on the Leeming farm outside Seaforth over the past several years with the help of ABCA programs.