County Sustainability group socially-distances cheques to award winners
Administrator | May 11, 2020 | Comments 0
The County Sustainability Group honoured winners of the Prince Edward County Organic Farmers’ Bursary for 2020 presenting socially-distanced cheques.
CSG member Don Ross “forked over” $1000 to first prize award winner Mike Barnes, of Lamb’s Quarters Farm in Picton.
Barnes and wife Rachel Morris started Lambs Quarters Farm in 2017 at 240 Talbot St in Picton. They’ve planted and care for more than 300 native trees and shrubs. They are breeders of specialty livestock (Shetland Sheep, Chantecler Chickens, and ducks) and growers of small fruits and vegetables, which they sell at their road side farm stand.
With this grant money they plan to expand their services by purchasing a bicycle cargo trailer for delivering fresh fruits and veggies to customers in Picton.
Vicki Emlaw, of Vicki’s Heirloom Tomatoes, “raked in” second prize of $500 from CSG member Don Hudson of Valleypine Farm.
Emlaw is well known in PEC and around Ontario for the past 20 years as owner of Vicki’s Veggies at 81 Morrison Pt Road. She began the first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in the County, among many other achievements at her organic farm.
During this time her specialty became her passion for growing and saving Heirloom tomatoes. With this bursary grant she hopes to share her vast knowledge of seeding, growing, pruning, trellising, harvesting and eating these tomatoes with gardeners online via instructional videos and interactive problem solving.
“Both these farmers are very worthy recipients of support through our bursary, which is funded from the proceeds of our annual spring rain barrel and composter sale,” said Ross. “The sale had to be cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic but we hope to be back for the May 2021 event – our 10th year.”
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