The Lucknow Sentinel, 1996-03-13, Page 74KINGSPORT
CONSTRUCTION INC.
General Contracting ,
oncrcta�c+ For ing
H S °. Pt S. ION '' LO •
•�y
RO
ALL TYPES 9
, B#a4 fir" .R - D Y
OTH R A. BUILDINGS
Uy Equipped & Finished Facilities
�fL.9NR
MUTUAL MKTR
COMPANY
Wroxeter, Ontario
NOG 2XO
X519) 335 361
Kingsportypanst ct ontnc.
RR% •Godeli��yt. 117Ach, Oat 3X9
Tel9.(519) 529-7058
Fax .(519) 529m3414
BERT KNOOP, President °
GRICULTURAL CONVEYOR BELTING
FO• •
Bale Throw r ; Belts
Diarriond36.0 2 ply Qr 3 ply
Bw�th�rs • ..
for all makes - Mefrde replacement belts',
Buie :Windro er
.Forage . Wagons;
• Cattle Feeders .
by Nellie Evac P
.en ascho°s; *ixed farm
near Zurich is one exsplk out
of hundreds across (ntart* of
how ecological philosophies
word
For 40 years, Ken and Della
Gascho have been farming
without use of chemical pesti-
cides or fertilizers. And the
results are bloomire good,
Gascho grows, large striped
sunflowers, once .referred to. as
1[Weii.nmate su nflo° ers, mostl.
for bird seed; He ferdliZes with
composted cattle manure.
"It was a way to attract wild
birds," he said.
° • Once a self-sufficient project
based on a. one dollar invest.;
meat in 1.96E -6i2, Gascho is now
an annual contributor of sun-
flower seeds to the local bird-
feeding market.
On his own farm of cattle,
corn, and popcorn, _Gascho has;
attracted such birds as, cardinals,
chickadees,, blue jays and
nuthatches...and helped bird
lovers from -Zurich, Grand
Bend,. Bayfield" rid Exeter
attract their new feathered
friends,
"Birds are important because
if you use chemicals it will
destroy the good insects," he
`said. "If.you protect the balance
(of nature) rather, than destroy
it; they'll come `;around."
Shortly after his venture into`
sunflowers, Gascho switched to
ecological farming from con-
ventional.
"1 was concerned of the
health of future generations. We
had young boys at the ,time.
We'veproved that it works," he"
said.
Sunflowers work well with
ecological philosophies because
they;naturally provide shade
which chokes, out most weeds.
Sunflowers also help revitalize.
soil `that's been ravaged by con-
ventional
fanning.
"You don't need real good
soil,". said Gascho, who is a
member of the 700 -member
Ecological Farmers Association
of Ontario
In fact, a Mitchell -area
farmer uses sunflowers as a
cover crop after he harvests his.
wheat crop, said-Gascho. The
farmer allows the sunflowers to
grow until they become soft
green stalks, then plows them'
dawn. Last year,, he purchased
1,200 poundsof seed.
Cannes Mill in Exeter was
(aschcos first and last contmer,
eial buyer of sunflower seed.
That avenue was closed because
he had too many private buyers.
,Gascho plants" enough to . sup-
ply our customers."
But sometimes he runs
outlast fall, fiveto eight acres
of sunflowers yielded approxi-
mately. 3a0 bushels of seed
which wasn't enough to keep
.local bird feeders full.
Through ecological farming
and a desire to keep his cus-
tomers happy, Gascho is able to
offer his sped at about half of
the price of Cormuercial outlets.
"It varies yearly because the
price. varies at the other end.
They are catnpetitive prices,
about `half the, cost lin (grocery
and pet food) stores, a. sate
Gascho. "We havenet been able : ,
to stop. People ask for them so
wekeep right or< growing ..
them."
Sunflower. grower Ken Gascho of Zurich reads constant-
ly about ecological, or sustainable, farming. He's been
farming for 40 years. He . sells sunflower seed as bird
seed.(Nellie Evans photo)
22 Isaac Street • Clinton
(519) 482=9333
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