Summer 2021
This summer has been a doozy. It started out with extreme heat really early on that allowed a lot of things to start growing sooner than normal. Followed of course by a frost at the end of June that did some damage to crops on the island. A drought and then lots of rain. Thankfully we were not negatively affected by it, but it’s a good reminder to keep an eye on the weather report.
Speaking of crazy weather we recently had a tornado event here on the island that did do a lot of damage. Crops of corn were leveled, barns destroyed, trees everywhere blown over or snapped off like tooth-picks, including some in our sugar bush. We had a number down in the yard and have just gotten close to finishing the clean up there. I went and had a peek up at Bush One (where we tapped this past season) and there are some major changes and a lot to clean up in that landscape to do. It’s going to be a busy fall and winter clearing out the trees on the lines, and just generally getting it so we can maneuver in there without fear of large widowmakers falling on our heads. Especially since the winters here are becoming more warm, and with at least one ice storm a season there’s bound to be more damage to the bush before the next syrup season. It’s really unfortunate as the trees in this province are already under duress from invasive insects and diseases.
Alas, there is not much we can do to stop these kinds of extreme weather events. All we can do is try to clean up the mess and manage our sugar bush the best we can.
In other news we have been at the Hilton Beach Farmers Market again this year. The market started up a little later this year and ended on the labour day weekend. After the market ends we of course still have plants producing, and syrup left. Just give us a call to get orders of things at the farm gate. We aren’t always near the computer or our phone, but leave a message and we will get back to you.
The last bit of news is that we have a new member of the family: William Gordon Douglas was born on May 27 at 2 in the afternoon. Making our spring and summer that much sweeter, and busier! We are settling into life as a family of four in our little house and it wouldn’t be possible without the help of our immediate and close family. So shout out to them for being our awesome village! Much love to you guys.
Finally, what’s a post during a global pandemic without mentioning the global pandemic? Well, it’s still going on and while things seem to be progressing in some ways (more people are vaccinated) it also doesn’t seem to be changing things that much (case numbers are still rising… the fourth wave etc). Are we just going to be riding the waves forever? I mean, if you think about it, waves don’t really ever stop completely … *sigh* Life will never be the same I think, and maybe that’s a good thing. I’ll just leave it at that for now.
Stay safe!!
-Jan
