'A celebration of Powassan farming': Great Pumpkin Tour draws large crowds to area farms
With Thanksgiving and Halloween right around the corner, farms, and general stores in the Powassan area were hosting their customers for tours and a chance to purchase locally grown fresh vegetables.
It’s part of ‘The Great Pumpkin Tour’ and is a follow-up to ‘The Great Powassan and Area Farmstead Tour’ hosted in the area earlier this year. The tours aim to give farms a boost during the busy season.
“All the farmers markets are ending so the farm stands have their vegetables for sale,” explained organizer Kathie Hogan, who also serves as the event coordinator at 250 Clark.
“Now they have a chance to see their customers face to face. Farm stands are self serve.”
Over at the Wand Family Farm, the sheep are eating, the turkeys call out and the crowds gather. The farm is one of the stops along the farm tour.
“Some of the activities we see here on the farm are sheep sheering, we have our cattle and our sheep in the barnyard,” explained owner Markus Wand.
There are 15 stops along the tour, which also include a general store and animal feed store. Five of the stops are in town. The idea sprung up last spring when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Farms became isolated from hungry customers which hurt the industry.
“It’s a really huge event for local farmers,” smiled Hogan. “We’ve got farm animals and food and that’s what we specialize in. This is a celebration of Powassan farming.”
Since Powassan relies heavily on farming and agriculture, Hogan says it was a ‘no brainer’ to create a day to support its local farmers.
There are 218 farms in the Nipissing region which have created over 720 jobs. Farming has also created a 12 per cent increase in jobs from 2012-2019.
Over at Foxfire Heritage Farm, owner Matthew Larivee is showing the eager crowd how to blacksmith. His animals are on display, as well as his produce.
“There are a lot smaller, independent farmers that are doing their own thing. It’s given these farmers an opportunity to sell their product to the customer and skip some of the stores that would be closed by COVID-19,” he explained.
According to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, agriculture in Nipissing generates $12.3 million in farm cash receipts (FCR) contributing to $40 million GDP.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Iran fires at suspected Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
Iran fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
In his new book 'As Long as You Need', hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.