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Thursday, September 3, 2015 | Contact the newsroom 250-723-8171 | news@avtimes.net | STORY UPDATES: www.avtimes.net
AGRICULTURE
Enjoy this year’s Alberni Fall Fair
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ntertainment for one and all unfolds at The Alberni District Fall Fair, this year, from Sept 10 – 13. For some it is one last chance to celebrate the end of a lazy summer before the return of shorter, darker, wetter, more serious days. It’s an opportunity to meet the community, whether they’re promoting a fabulous new product, the merits of their organization or a pet rabbit. You can enjoy live country music and perhaps will be fortunate enough to shake the hand of a wise politician running for office. For many farmers a fall fair traditionally signifies an end to the harvest. The hay’s been bailed, the wheat’s been thrashed and the last giant zucchini has been picked. My research finds that our fair was first established in the 1930’s.
Helgie Naesgaard Simply Growing It shut down for the War and then emerged again in 1946, when the Farmers Institute convinced the Kinsmen Club to host the event. In perusing the 2011 ACRD Valley Agricultural Plan I’m reminded that Valley farmers actually used to be much more active in supplying local food. I remember McKinnon’s Dairy sitting amongst giant maples, now replaced by Walmart’s parking lot. All but one of the substantial dairy farms which once supplied McKinnon’s have also stopped milking, having sold their cows and quotas to bigger operators. Shannon Farms remains,
proving that dairy farming can still function as a viable industry in the Valley. Local pig farms no longer supply Hertels and Port Potato dug its last spud some time ago. However Rages Farm continues to skillfully pump out long English cucumbers. Decades ago Rages were much more diversified, as they competed for customers with my parents’ farm, in growing sweet corn and strawberries. I’m sure many folks have pleasant memories of their visits to both farms. At Naesgaard’s Farm and Market we’ve been growing berries and vegetables in the Valley for more than half a century, first at McCoyLake and now along River Road. The Alberni Valley Tractor Club continues their work for fun and good causes on our McCoy Lake fields. The ACRD report points out
that agriculture, today, focuses on niche products and direct marketing to the consumer. Who could have predicted that a local water buffalo farm would be converting their milk into delicious cheese? Local poultry has gained in popularity because it is free range, while local beef is grass fed. Farmers’ markets have of course emerged and so have the tasting rooms of the Valley’s two wineries. There is indeed a movement towards, fresh local seasonal food. Learn about local agriculture, not only at this year’s fall fair,
but also during Family Farm Day on Sunday, Sept 20, when you can visit select local farms. Pick up info at the fair. At Naesgaard Market we’re now picking strawberries, corn, carrots, a variety of squash and pumpkins. Also become a local mini-farmer by picking up seeds and starter plants for fall growing at our Market on River Road. » Helgie Naesgaard owns and operates a family-run business in the Alberni Valley. Naesgaard’s Farm Market has been serving the Valley for more than 40 years.
From the stories of
P.G. Wodehouse INT E R
SAFETY
Adapted by
Next I would ask for the running lights and hazard flashers to be turned on. A quick circle check examined safety chains, lights, reflectors, tires, wheels, licence plate and decal as well as load security. This could be accomplished in a couple of minutes and I then had a good idea of how roadworthy the trailer was or wasn’t.
» Tim Schewe is a retired RCMP constable with many years of traffic enforcement experience. To comment or learn more, please visit www. drivesmartbc.ca.
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Behind the Wheel
Bernard Cuffling and Daryl King
Tim Schewe
Margaret Raether
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Many times the exercise would conclude with an order for the trailer to be taken to a designated inspection station for a more thorough examination by a mechanic. I spoke with one of these inspectors once and was told that I had a light hand when it came to using my pen. In his opinion, a large number of the trailers that I had sent should have been taken away from the roadside by tow truck.
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Importance of a trailer pre-trip inspection ne of the more eye-opening exercises that I used to conduct at this time of the year was to park my police vehicle at the brake check and wave in vehicles pulling boat trailers for a mechanical inspection. I had learned that boat trailers were often the most poorly maintained of all recreational trailers and there were often serious safety defects to be found. A simple pre-trip inspection by the driver would have found them easily and made sure that the trip would be a safe one. The first thing I would do after gathering all the paperwork was to hand the driver a wrench and ask him to open the surge brake reservoir for a brake fluid level check. If the cap did not break off the reservoir was frequently dry or contained rust coloured liquid that indicated the fluid was contaminated with water and likely had been for some time. If the brake fluid appeared appropriate we would then activate the breakaway brake and try to move ahead. It should be very difficult to move the trailer.
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