Times-Advocate, 1988-06-08, Page 22Page 6A
Times -Advocate, June 8, 1988
Farm
By Yvonne Reynolds
Rick and Karen Etherington have
found a way to stay home and meet
people from different cultures and
different backgrounds from around
the world. For the fourth year, thcy
arc registered with the Ontario Vaca-
tion Farm Association and offering
bed and breakfast - or longer stays -
on their 150 -acre D and D Stock
Farms tight kilometers northeast of
Exeter.
The Ethcringtons first considered
the possibility of opening their
home to guests after reading about
how a Seaforth-arca lady, a director
and active member of OVFA, had
turned extra bedroom space into ex-
tra income.
Membership criteria
The OVFA charges an annual
membership fee of S175. Members
pay an additional S75 for liability
insurance coverage; a group insu-
rance policy takes in all OVFA
members in Ontario.
Those wishing to become mem-
bers of OVFA must pass a 100 -
point check to be accepted and listed
in the the annual brochure published
with the assistance of OMAF and
widely distributed at tourist informa-
tion booths, border—crossing points—
and
older crossingpoints—
and other places where Ontario ac-
commodation guides arc available.
Ten points are given for a good
first impression of a place. Rooms
need not be luxurious, but must be
clean and comfortable. A bathroom
exclusively for guests is better than
one shared with the host family.
A safe drinking water certificate
must be obtained.
Active working farms are pre-
ferred.
The Etheringtons met all criteria.
They had two spare rooms above
their kitchen, with a private stair-
way leading to a first -floor bath-
room.
The bathroom required renova- _
tion. The Ethcringtons decided to
retain the old clawfoot tub, which
had been lowered and boarded in
years before. When the siding
was removed, Rick discovered to
his delight that his father had
tucked the original feet in, under
the tub.
They were put back on, and a
shower ring was added overhead.
Tile room was freshly painted and
paper
The "active" qualification was
easily met. The couple, with help
from son Derek and daughter Ro-
byn, grow corn, wheat, soybeans,
mixed grain and hay, tend a herd
of sheep and a 50 -sow farrow to
weancr quality swine operation.
(Rick was one of this year's win-
ners of the Ontario Pork Congress
Innovators Competition for his
suggestion to economise by sub-
stituting a utility knife with a
snap -off blade for a scalpel.)
Two dogs, a fluctuating number
of cats and kittcns, a pony and a
flock of ducks add to the rural at-
mosphere.
"We figured this would be away
to stay home and make some
pocket money. When you have
small kids and livestock, you don't
get too far", Karen explained.
Offer bed and breakfast, or longer stays
hosts let the world come to them
Karen accepted the invitation, and
had a wonderful time. The friend-
ship has continued to grow.
Another couple from Hong
Kong who called themselves Flor-
ence and Bernie spoke only broken
English. Everyone managed to
communicate anyway.
A man who had emigrated from
Russia as a teenager was 'staying
Variet'y of visitors
Instead, the world has come to
them. Three years ago a couple
from West Germany stayed for six
weeks while looking at farms.
They finally bought one near
Dashwood., then turned the tables
and. invited thc Etheringtons to
visit them in Germany.- Rick and
until sunrise, and how noisy the
birds arc from five a.m. on.
Some common
misconceptions
City folk also have some mis-.
conceptions about farm life, assum-
ing that all the food is free.
"I tell them we shop for groceries
just like anyone else", Rick said.
He explains that bccf animals eat
The Ethcringtons' first guest was
a retired research scientist and his
friend, who followed Rick every-
where and asked innumerable ques-
tions. Before leaving, the self-
appointed efficiency cxpcn presented
Rick with his findings, and added an
extra tip "for being a nuisance".
The biggest problem is getting
those who have come for bed and
PEACEFUL MOMENT- Vacation Farm hosts Rick and Karen Etherington set
'their patio and watch daughter Robyn give a bottle to an orphan Iamb.
with the Etheringtons at the time
of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
He was intensely interested in the
news reports; he had relatives liv-
ing near the nuclear station.
A wealthy divorcee and her
young daughter left their million--
dollar
illion=dollar home in Toronto, put on
their designer country wardrobes,
and puddled happily along the river
bank for three days. Packed in
amongst the luggage in their luxu-
rious car for the trip home -were a
margarine container of live tad-
poles, a bouquet of wild flowers, a
collection of clam shells, and some
fossil rocks from a nearby quarry.
A father who gets custody of his
son every three months comes to
the farm for -the long weekends.
He otice spent Christmas and New
Year's with the Ethcringtons, even
attending their Sunday School
Christmas concert. He has sent
Christmas gifts to the Ethcrington
children in other years.
Most families stay three or four
days, and usually pitch in to help
with whatever is going on. In the
evening guests are treated to wagon
rides, and campfires.
"The kids think it's heaven = and
all for a bag of marshmallows and
a few burning twigs", Rick re-
marked.
Guests are amazed at the brilli-
ance of the starry night. In the
city, the light from many sources
blots out the stars. They also ex-
claim over how dark everything is
feed, which must be purchased, and
the farmer then pays to have an ani-
mal killed, cut up and wrapped for
the freezer. The tomatoes and car-
rots and cucumbers in Karen's large
vegetable garden don't just pop out
of the ground they have to be
planted and cared for.
Karen recalls the lady who has
tried for the last three summers to
purchase a selection of the quart jars
of jams and jellies and .preserves
Karen makes each year - at $2 a
quart. Karen still hasn't been able
to make the lady understand that the
strawberries alone in a quart of jam
cost more than $2.
The Ethcringtons have found that
the stingiest of their guests have
been some of the people in some of
the most highly paid professions.
The worst was an American psychi-
atrist who stayed five nights with
his wife and baby daughter. With-
out charging extra, Karen got out
her children's crib, and baby blan-
kets, and turned one room into a
nursery. Before leaving each morn-
ing, the doctor asked for, and got, a
fresh thermos of coffee. He also
swept up any left -over muffins or
pancakes or other breakfast goodies.
When settling up, he argued that
the listed cost of bed and breakfast
meant for two, not one. He eventu-
ally paid, albeit grudgingly.
However, this type is a tiny mi-
nority. The majority of guests are
appreciative, pleasant people who
return for another stay.' .
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COMPANY FARE - Uwe and Thea Wisch, RR 2 Kippen, served black forest cake at an open house on their On-
tario Vacation Farm.
Agricrew off and running
CLINTON The 1988 Agncrew.
Team is off and running, or almost
anyways. The four crews formed in
Huron County will begin working
at various agriculturally related
Feature
of the
Week ...
1O3'sj %
2 Yrs. GIC
Goderich 1.800 265 5503
tasks on June 20 and work until
August 19.
This year's recruits arc Peter Cly -
nick, Lynn Feeney, Randy Finlay-
son, Tim Hayes, Ian Koetsier,
Scott Koetsier, Andre Kryzanow-
ski, Patrick Nigh, Jason Potter,
Michelle Turner, Mary Wall, Nan-
cy Walter, Ron Wammes, Steven
Watt, and Dcnnis Webster. The al-
ternates, people who will work
when regular crew members are
sick or need a holiday, are Lisa
Empson, Tanya Empson, Bruce
Hallam, Ann Moran, Lori Moran,
Mike McCillough, Derck Schwart-
zcntruber, Darren Stevenson and
Tina Thomas.
However, there is still a forcper-
son's position available in the
Northern region of Huron County.
The foreperson, who would re-
ceived $5.05 per hour and $0.275
per kilometer, is responsible for
transporting the crew members to
and from the job site.
If interested in working as a fore-
person or booking a crew for a day
contact Angie or Don at 482-3428
or 1-800-265-5170.
aside
a few moments to relax on
breakfast to "pack up and skedaddle"
after the morning meal, Rick re-
vealed. Some hang around until
noon, hinting at how good lunch
looks.
The Etheringtons like being farm
vacation hosts. The good points far
outweigh the bad.
Rick likes the hearty breakfasts he
gets with guests in the house.
"I get fed well. With no guests,
my wife says 'You know where the
cereal is. Get it"' he recounted with
a twinkle in his cyc.
Karen's baking skills and gift for
hospitality find a rewarding outlet
in entertaining at home. Besides.
"with kids and livestock, you can't
go far from home anyway".
The Ethcringtons believe their
children are the main beneficiaries.
Derek and Robyn have made many
new friends. They know what is
expected of them, and accompany
visitors to feed the orphan Iamb,
give the pony a carrot, or throw
feed to the ducklings.
"They learn a lot - sharing and di -
plomacy for example", Karen noted.
"This gives them liberties, too.
We stop and take the time for a
hayride, or a campfire, or a walk
along the river when we have
guests."
"Well never get rich doing this",
but we enjoy it", Rick said.
The charge is $25 for one, and
$40 for a couple who stay over-
night and for breakfast. Equally
reasonable rates are available for
those wanting to stay longer.
Uwe and Thea Wisch are opening
their farmhouse at RR2 Kippen to
paying guests for the first time this
year. They offer three upstairs bed-
rooms and exclusive use of the up-
stairs bathroom.
Guests may use thc large in-
ground outdoor pool behind the
house, swim or fish in the fishpond
or watch as Thea works on dried
(lower creations in her workshop.
They can also try making their own
wreaths.
The Wisch Huron Farms 326 -acre
cash crop operation is also home to
a flock of sheep, some geese, a
friendly dog and the inevitable cats.
The Wisches have already had
their first guests, a couple from
Chicago who had never been in
Canada before.
Uwe confirmed thc booking. The
May 26 date seemed familiar. His
wife later informed him that was
her birthday.
The visitors arrived in late after-
noon, then took off again to ex-
plore Bayfield. On their retutn,
they joined family and friends for
some of Thea s famous black forest
cake and coffee.
• The are taking only a few book-
ings untitl after their 25th wedding
anniversary celebrations in mid-
July. One couple from France is
booked for the cnd of July, and an-
other is coming from nearby Wind-
sor.
The Wisches charge $20 for one,
and $35 for two, for bed and break-
fast.
*
This year the OVFA brochure
lists only three members in 1-luron
County. The third is La Brassine
on Kitchisami Caron Road halfway
between Goderich and Bayfield on
Highway 21. Bilingual Tom -and
Nicky Blanchard-Hublet offer gour-
met dining in their 100 -year-old
home.
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NTRACTOR
Exeter, Ontario (519) 235-1115
Karcher Hotline 1-800-265-4268
Free Demo Contact: Don Boyes
We are
MOVING
to our
NEW LOCATION
at
liwy. #83 150 Thames Rd. E.,
Exeter 435-0743
Business as usual.
We are sorry for any
inconvenience it may
cause our loyal customers
A
6.3
MASSEY—FERGUSON
A Eltisness `
vasty Corpwaton Y
•
Sherwood (Exeter) Ltd.
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