Lambton lands part of 30×30 project
Rita and Bert Veens, Debbie and Pete Geerts with Jeremy Veens and Curtis Geerts
Birnam Orchard honoured for innovation
March 6, 2025
An Arkona family is being honoured with the Sollio Next Generation Award.
Cousins Jeremy Veens and Chris Geerts took over Birnam Orchards from their fathers who started the business in 1985. The orchard has 200 acres of apples and grows peaches, sweet corn, pumpkins, gourds, and squash.
Guided by their fathers’ experience, Veens and Geerts “embraced innovation” including high-density planting and sustainable irrigation.
“The Sollio Next Generation Award plays an important role not only in recognizing entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated a farm transition or launched a new agricultural enterprise, but also in showcasing innovative farming practices across Canada,” said Casper Kaastra, Chief Executive Officer of Sollio Agriculture in a news release
Sollio officials added Veens an Geert’s ability to integrate modern techniques while preserving family expertise makes Birnam Orchards a model of succession planning in Canadian agriculture.
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Lambton lands part of 30×30 project
July 11, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Almost 700 acres of land along the Sydenham River, including some in Petrolia and Wawrick, will be recognized as conservation lands in Ontario. It’s part of an international plan to protect 30 per cent of the earth’s land and sea by 2030. Tim Payne, manager of forests for the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, was contacted by
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No PW park fees for severed farm lots
July 11, 2025
The Independent Farmers severing a house from their land won’t have to pay a park land fee in Plympton-Wyoming. The idea came up for discussion at June 30 council meeting after the Committee of Adjustment suggested the town consider the idea. Developers of subdivisons must provide park land or pay a fee in lieu of land. Farmers severing homes don’t
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Learning about wood turning at Petrolia’s Art in the Park
July 11, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent Petrolia’s downtown is filled with people for Art in the Park. Artisans and artists line Victoria Park and there are demonstrations going on as well. This is Brian Houf of The Houf Workshop in Corunna. He takes green wood and turns them into bowls and utensils using a lathe he made himself. Houf, who works for the
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Model trains and planes take over Mooretown Museum
July 11, 2025
The Independent There was a big turnout for Model Train Day at the Mooretown Museum on Sunday. It is the 80th anniversary of Victory in Japan Day and the end of the Second World War and a recent donation to the museum of 30 military and 7 warships models were incorporated into some of the train layouts. Also on hand
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