We are starting a new chapter on the farm this fall. After 10 years on the farm Ellen, Aaron and their children, Della and Frannie have moved to Port Stanley, a near by village. Ellen has moved on from farming to becoming a therapist…what does that say about farming? However, I find getting my hands in the dirt and cooking to be therapeutic, so we will see what Ellen comes up with in the long run. Having 10 years with Ellen and her family next door when, the girls were little, was a blessing and we will continue to enjoy family time together.

Grayden and Jess and their children, Lillli and Louie are moving to the farm in November. Their current house is being expropriated to make room for a highway expansion northwest of St. Thomas. Since Ellen was no longer actively farming, she and Aaron decided to move off the farm and make room for Grayden and his family to move on farm rather than try and build another house here. We are in the process of retrofitting the greenhouse to become an art studio for Grayden and doing a bit of a face-lift or rather floor-lift in the main farmhouse. Yesterday, Jess and I sanded the kitchen and bathroom floors. The 35 years of hard use on pine floors was very evident!

On the farm front, Grayden is preparing to plant some Christmas Trees in the spring and ease into that aspect of farming. He has fond memories our small Christmas Tree business from his youth. We will continue to grow a range of vegetables for ourselves, but are planning on having all the gardens up near the houses next year. Ken will continue to custom graze beef cattle and keep his small herd of Suffolk Punch horses. I am enjoying my dye plant gardens and look forward to having more time to play with natural dyeing and eco printing.

Ken is taking a woodlot stewardship course and yesterday went to the woods with Louie to prepare for a presentation. We have one beautiful oak mother tree where Louie’s parents exchanged wedding vows five years ago. Ken took a picture of Louie under the tree…