40 PUMPKINS nfrom page 39


Smoothie and Big Daddy being among the most popular. A productive pumpkin field


takes “good crop


management, water at the right time and feed them lots of manure,” Taves says. He’s been offering u-pick


and pre-picked pumpkins since 1991, when he started with an eighth of an acre. Now, pumpkins are incorporated throughout the farm both as décor and to engage guests in the practice of pumpkin growing. “It needs to be a


According to Statistics Canada, British Columbia growers harvested 873 acres of pumpkins in 2017 with a farmgate value of more than $6 million. The average price was 23 cents per pound.


multifaceted operation to make it today,” Taves says. “You have to have an integrated approach with other products.” But having people, whether adults or school tours, tramping around the farm can be angst-inducing, according to Tamis. A farm needs special insurance to cover visitors, and additional staff to help prevent accidents. The cost is based on revenues. His is in the high hundreds while Taves has a comprehensive policy that doesn’t break out the cost. “When November 1 rolls


TRACTORS


JD 1445 4WD MOWER, 60” DECK, FRONT BLADE, REFURBISHED 11,700 JD 7410 CAB, 4WD, 10,950 HRS [U31753] ............................ SOLD! NH 8160 2WD, CAB, 4000 HRS, NICE CONDITION [CNS714] .... SOLD! NH 54D 4WD, CAB, LDR, 40 HRS, LIKE NEW, SOME WARRANTY (U31396) ............................................... 49,500 NH 8770 4WD, 10,800 HRS, 160 HP, NICE RUNNING TRACTOR [CNS690] ........................................................................... 56,000 NH TL80 2001 2WD, CAB, 2700 HOURS [U15669] .................. SOLD! NH TM155 9,000 HOURS, 4WD, NICE TRACTOR [CNS693] ..... 45,000 NH TN70 CAB, LDR, 4WD, TURF TIRES, 3800 HRS [U15670] ... SOLD! NH TZ25DA 2006, 780 HRS, 4WD, 54” LAWN MOWER (U31683) 9,500 NH BOOMER 2035 2008, 625 HRS, 4WD, LOADER (U31684) . 20,575 NH T6.165 2014, 7600 HRS, 20.8X38 REAR TIRES (U31662) 64,900 QUALITY USED EQUIPMENT


32LA LOADER ONLY FOR TN TRACTOR [U31905] ........................ 1,000 LIKE NEW LAND ROLLER [CNS721] .......................................... 13,900 KVERNELAND ‘E’ 4 BOT ROLLOVER PLOW W/ COOLTERS [CNS722] 15,000 JD 935 DISC MOWER, 11.5’ CUT [U31861] .............................. 9,000 CASE IH DISC MOWER ROLL CONDITIONER [U31840] ................ 11,900 BE-RG500 ROTARY CUTTER, NICE CONDITION [U31826] ............ 1,475 FELLA TH68D HYDRO 6 BASKET TEDDER, HYD, FOLD, 2004 [U31737] 9,900 FELLA TS 456T RAKE [U31222]...................................................8,600 SMC 2584 FERTILIZER SPREADER, 8 TON, STAINLESS HOPPER [CNS692] ................................................21,500 NH STACK CRUISER 1049 1979; GAS; GOOD COND; (CNS720) 19,500 NH 1012 BALE WAGON W/UNLOAD, 55 BALES [CNS711] ...........5,900 NH 1412 DISC MOWER [U31336].......................................... 16,900 NH FP240; GOOD CONDITION, 2005, TANDEM AXLE; HI DUMP HOSES; SPOUT EXTENSION; 29P GRASSHEAD (U31570) .................... 29,000 BRILLION SS-10 SEEDER VERY GOOD COND; AS NEW; STORED INSIDE (U31507) ..................................................... SOLD! FP 230 2001 METALERT NO HEADS - U31374.......................... 6,900


around, Pam and I breathe easy again,” Tamis says. Tamis hires family, friends and neighbours to ensure there’s enough staff to guide visitors, drive the tractor for hayrides, run the tills and more. Over at Taves Family Farms, 30 people are trained to help with all aspects of the agri-tourism operation. “On a busy weekend, we


probably have about 10 people including drivers,” notes Tamis. “You have to decide to either stay small or go big.” As a smaller operation,


Tamis can only manage one class at a time, so they do one in the morning and one in the afternoon. They focus on showing kids how a working farm operates during the visits.


Despite all the elements to


consider, neither Tamis nor Taves would consider selling to wholesalers. “One of the reasons we


CHILLIWACK • 1.800.242.9737 | 44725 Yale Road West • 604.792.1301 LANGLEY • 1.800.665.9060 | 21869 - 56th Avenue • 604.533.0048 CHEMANIUS • 1.250.246.1203 | 3306 Smiley Road


COMMITTED TO AGRICULTURE in the FRASER VALLEY rollinsmachinery.com


started the pumpkin patch years ago was because the subdivision was going in right across the road,” Tamis says. “Let’s re-establish that relationship; let’s get to know our neighbours. And the parents are often asking more questions than the kids.” Taves says retailers often buy pumpkins from farmers, who use their pumpkins as a loss-leader tool to rotate land for more valuable crops. “We are not into that part of the farming sector, so we need to make money from the actual cost of growing,” he explains. “That is why we offer fun activities to make buying pumpkins at their true cost palatable by the consumer.”


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • OCTOBER 2018


The "usual" gives plenty of cause for thanks


Like everyone, I suspect,


many hours in our days are consumed with what could be deemed mundane, ordinary things but to put


Wannabe Farmer


it mildly, these past months have been anything but that. In this month’s offering, I won’t dwell on the all-too- familiar scenarios of heat, drought and wildfires, but rather on the extraordinary efforts of BC’s farmers. Be they huge or tiny


commercial operations, the residents of this province have reaped the rewards of their hard work and commitment under some pretty difficult circumstances. That’s where the usual is no longer common and the growing, marketing and sales of local food is no simple matter. In Powell River, food


that’s advertised and sold as local is sourced from Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and our own community. It’s not as simple as it may sound. Farmers growing and selling produce to commercial grocery stores face stringent standards and regulations. Someone involved in that transition from soil to checkout- stand noted that the process is more


complicated than most people realize. Retailers can’t just take produce and sell it; they have to be able to trace it back to the grower and the grower has to have met government and seller standards. Provincial regulations and standards apply throughout BC while other parts of the country may have their own restrictions and policies. Regulations for farm land use as well as for the production of food for animal consumption are an important part of BC’s agricultural policies, as well. I won’t attempt to explore or explain any of them but those who are part of that sector of our economy are well aware of them.


Back to exploring the by LINDA WEGNER


usual, though, because sadly, forest fires experienced over the past two years are predicted to become part of our usual summer experience. This means we have to adopt some new usual habits. I am neither qualified nor desirous of


condemning anyone else for their habits but I have to admit that carelessly tossed cigarette butts have inflamed my usually calm demeanour. I’ve been furious this summer upon finding dozens of them laying on or near tinder dry grass and other flammables. To make matters even worse, many were scattered within a few feet from houses, including ours. With the fire season being what it is, I scratch my head in wonderment that anyone could be so flagrantly careless. Wouldn’t it be great if


safe disposal of butts and adherence to campfires bans someday became the accepted norm? There, that’s my rant, but on a far more positive note, I am thankful for the Canadian tradition of celebrating a day of Thanksgiving in October. Hopefully, most crops are in and some much- deserved time of taking it a bit easier can be enjoyed. I’m also thankful for our small but productive backyard garden. In fact, I don’t ever recall a more bountiful harvest than what we’ve enjoyed this summer. Though I know it hasn’t been the case with everyone (case in point: gardeners and farmers just south of us have experienced drought and low well-water levels), I am thankful that we’ve had enough vegetables to share with friends and neighbours. After all, isn’t that how “the usual” should work? In closing, I hope that


your normal and usual are sources of satisfaction and enjoyment. Yes, we all face tough times but it’s the support and strength of the regulars who make up our friends and neighbours that make all the difference. May yours be abundant.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44