The Rural Voice, 2003-03, Page 3About this issue
Badlg-needed touch of spring
It's the time of year when, given even a normal
semblance of winter weather, even the hardiest of us needs
a touch of spring. That's one reason maple syrup season
seems so welcome each March. Here is the essence of the
coming season, brought on by the warming sun, being
captured and condensed in sweet maple syrup.
This welcome spring tradition goes back long before the
first European settlers arrived in the hardwood forests of
eastern North America. The development of maple syrup
from those early native days through the hard -slogging
days of pioneer settlers to a modern sugar shanty
evaporator are on display at Saugeen Bluffs, operated by
the Saugeen Conservation Authority near Paisley. Every
year hundred of young students attend demonstrations. We
have a story this month.
On another children's theme, every year too many
children are killed and injured on farms across Ontario. Not
many people take their kids to work in an industrial site
every day but that's what happens for farm kids,
surrounded by big machinery and big animals. What steps
can we take to lessen the danger.
Again on a theme involving children, freelancer Larry
Drew looks at the role the country school played in the
development of Ontario. Neighbourhoods got together to
build these schools to provide education for their children,
but the effect went much beyond the local community.
Hundreds of leaders of the province, doctors, lawyers,
politicians and more came out of those schools.
The pork industry in Ontario has probably gone through
more change in the past decade than any other area of
farming. The impetus for much of that change has come
from the market: consumers wanting consistency, telling
their retailers who tell the packers who demand it of the
farmers. The change goes on, as producers attending the
annual Centralia Swine Update at Kirkton found out. We
have a report on a number of the presentations from
speakers involved in market-oriented research, from studies
in food safety and meat quality to reducing variability in
hogs through management.
In her gardening column, Rhea Hamilton Seeger
discusses new developments in gladioli while in
decorating, Patti Robertson talks about how lighting can
help your energy around the home.0
Update
U of G to offer organic degrees
Those with an interest in using organic farming practices
may soon be able to take a major in organic agricultural
studies from the University of Guelph. A story in our July
2002 issue dealt with the difficulty young farmers can have
learning about organic agriculture. At that time the course
taught by Dr. Ann Clark at Guelph, which had completed
its first year, was mentioned.
The proposal for students to be able to major in organic
farming was announced by Craig Pearson, the new dean of
the Ontario Agricultural College, during the 22nd annual
Guelph Organic Conference on January 25.
"I expect it will be finalized by April, and if it is
approved by the university, this will then be a coherent
program for students and will be available in 2004,"
Pearson said. As far as Pearson knows this will be the first
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an organic major
in North America.
Six faculty members will teach the course. There will be
no quota on how many students can take the program.
Naturally Dr. Clark was pleased. "There's never been a
curriculum to focus directly on organics," she told Jeffrey
Carter in Ontario Farmer.0
TheRural Voice
Published monthly by:
The Rural Voice,
Box 429, Blyth, Ontario,
NOM 1H0
Telephone: 519-523-4311 (fax 523-9140).
e-mail: norhuron@scsintemet.com
Subscriptions: $17.12 (12 issues)
(includes 7% GST)
Back copies $2.75 each
For U.S. rates, add $5 per year
Changes of address, orders for subscriptions
and undeliverable copies (return postage
guaranteed) are to be sent to The Rural Voice
at the address listed above.
A division of North Huron Publishing Company Inc.
Editor & Publisher: Keith Roulston
Editorial advisory committee:
Bev Hill, farmer, Huron Cty;
Diane O'Shea, farmer, Middlesex Cty.;
Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce Cty.
Contributing writers:
Bonnie Gropp, Carol Riemer, Ralph
Pearce, Bob Reid, Mervyn Erb, Sandra
Orr, Janice Becker, Mark Nonkes, Larry
Drew
Marketing & Advertising sales manager:
Gerry Fortune
Advertising representative:
Merle Gunby
Production co-ordinator:
Joan Caldwell
Advertising & editorial production:
Dianne Josling
Printed & mailed by: Signal -Star Publishing, Goderich, Ontario
Canadian Publication Mail Agreement Number 1375016 held by North Huron Publishing
Co. Inc. at Blyth, Ontario.
All manuscripts submitted for consideration should be accompanied by a stamped, self-
addressed envelope. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or
photographs, although both are welcome. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily
those of the publisher. Editorial content may be reproduced only by permission of the
publisher.
The Rural Voice makes every effort to see that advertising copy is correct. However, should an
error occur, please notify The Rural Voice office within 30 days of invoicing in order to obtain
a billing adjustment.