The Rural Voice, 1980-08, Page 10Back to nature
on a Perth tree farm
BY DONNA THIEL
Giving the land back to nature. That is how Jean and Stafford
Johnston have spent the last 34 years. In their home, you are
made to feel at home. This warm atmosphere extends to the trail
through their tree farm with its "broadloom floors of evergreen
needles." You get a sense of peace among the trees and the song
of the birds is music to your ears.
This tree farm did not just happen. Hard work was the most
important feature. In 1947, the Johnsons bought 75 acres in
Perth at Lot 11 Concession 4, Fullarton. 72 acres were cleared.
At this point the land had been neglected and the only trees
growing were poplar and willow.
That first spring the Johnstons owned the farm, 4,000 trees
were planted in an area called Piney Woods. Each year since,
1,000 to 5,000 trees have been planted for a total of 40,000 to
50,000 trees growing today. Many trees have been killed by
mice, rabbits and severe winters. In the future, when the
thinning and pruning is done, 20,000 mature trees will remain of
the 70 acres.
WHY A TREE FARM?
Stafford Johnston's grandfathers were both concerned about
the future of reforestation in Canada.
"What will happen when all the trees are gone?" questioned
Walter Smyth. Working as a lumberjack, he could see how fast
the trees were disappearing.
In 1905, William J.A. Stafford sat on Simcoe county council. It
was at this time that the Simcoe County Forest, near Barrie,
came into being. So the grandfathers' concern became
P0. 8 THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1980
Stafford's. He decided to do something.
CHILDREN HELPED
In earlier years, the Johnston children, then six to 11 years,
helped plant the trees by hand and spade. Each took a turn
taking a day off school to help. This summer five of the
Johnston's nine grandchildren are staying at the farm. But this is
no ordinary holiday. The three girls and two boys are busy with
numerous jobs such as thinning and pruning trees in the Piney
Woods.
After the trees are cut down and trimmed, they need to be
hauled to the barn. The trees are peeled and piled to dry.
Eventually the logs will be cut into 4 by 4's to be used for
retaining walls or to be stored for future use. The young people
are earning their wages.
Micheline, 17 and her brothers Marc, 15 and Bruce, 13 came
by train from Montreal. Their father, David is a construction
engineer. Megan, 15, and her sister Caitlin, 14, came by airplane
from North Vancouver. Hugh, their father, is chairman of the
History Department at Simon Fraser University. With the
exception of Bruce, who has spent the last two summers here,
the farm is a new working experience. It also gives them a
chance to compare the lifestyles of their parents and their
grandparents.
THE WHITE PINE
To Stafford and Jean the main attraction of their farm is the
white pine. Another feature is the two mile nature trail.
At first the trail was used mostly by the family. The trails