Today Martha and I went on a self-guided driving tour through various rural farms and agrifood operations in Chatham-Kent. The tour was organized by Agris and covered nine points of interest ranging from greenhouse operations to tree farms. The weather was balmy and it was Martha’s first ride in our new pickup truck.

Martha and I selected our areas of interest and headed off first to tour the Greenhill Produce operation. This is a 16-acre hydroponic sweet pepper greenhouse that is located along #2Hwy between Kent Bridge and Thamesville. We got a personalized tour from the owner’s son-in-law and I must say I left very impressed by the cleanliness and efficiency of this operation. They root the peppers in coconut husk medium and they are constantly feed water, low level carbon dioxide, and assorted nutrients. The pepper plants grow vertical about 15 feet high and are handpicked from mobile lift platforms on mini-tracks that weave throughout the greenhouse.

Our next stop was Sunshine Asparagus which is just North of Thamesville. This farm recently reduced it’s acreage down to about 110A. (both organic and regular) due to poor product prices. They fresh pick asparagus, quick chill it and then package it for distribution mainly for Loblaws. All product not shipped as fresh produce is pickled in jars and mainly sold to Western Canada. They also pickle some cucumbers, hot baby carrots, and jalapenos. The owner looks like a band-member from ZZ Top and his brutally honest tour was interesting to say the least. A very likeable ex-hippy type with a checkered past and a venomous tongue for the bureaucrats and regulators that continuously have their hands in his wallet for outrageous regulatory fees and inspections. He even showed us his Harley touring motorcycle and indoor batting cages he uses to blow off a little steam.

Next up on tour was Craven’s cow/calf finishing ranch. The owner explained to us how each cow is raised, bred, and recorded from birth to final product. All cattle are tagged with an RFID tag and their lineage and offspring are recorded in a database that establishes the timeline of ownership and handling right up to the meat counter at the local stores. Cows generally live about 12 years and produce about 8 calves in their lifetime.

Next we stopped at the Great Lakes Lavender Farm for a walking tour and they gave Martha a pair of scissors to help herself to a couple bundles of lavender. She made a nice arrangement at home and I can smell the bouquet as I type. We also stopped and saw some of Jim M’s seed corn being harvested and still made it home in time to BBQ up some of our new lamb we had butchered. All in all not a bad day to tour our local area.