Sarah's Culinary Adventure: "Springtime is the land awakening." Lewis Grizzard

A view of our 10 acres in Norfolk County, Ontario taken last spring.

Hiya followers! Today, we're going out to the country!
Several years ago my parents purchased 10 acres of land in Norfolk County, Ontario. It's situated about 30 minutes north of Port Dover on Lake Erie and smack dab in the middle of Ontario farm country. Five acres is woods and the other five is an "L" shaped plot that was farmed, soy beans being the last crop a few years before my parents bought it. That first year, the five acres were dried out and sparsely covered with weeds. So, my Dad contacted the local arbour society and had them plant 500 baby indigenous trees around the perimeter, not only for future privacy, but also to protect the open land. Next, my Dad got in touch with a local farmer and asked him to put down a few hundred pounds of pasture mix to hopefully sprout, grow and protect the top soil. Our family went ahead and added to the fun by spreading another hundred pounds or so of grass seed ourselves. With bated breath, we waited to see if the seed would take and if the grasses would grow. Well, the following spring we had our answer and since then, we've enjoyed shoulder high grass and the John Deere ride on mower we got to try and tame it! Other additions to the land have been a RV (our home away from home, which I like to describe as a breadbox on wheels!), a shed my Dad and I built, four fruit trees (two apple, two pear), a large garden (herbicide and pesticide free, of course!), a garden compost and the all important campfire pit.
The land that my parents bought has brought us, our family and many friends so much joy over the last several years. Countless days gardening, mowing, enjoying picnics, delicious RV cooked meals, camp outs and campfires have made us all so happy.
I haven't visited the property yet this year, but my Dad has twice and he is happy to say that our RV survived the harsh winter, as well as our garlic and asparagus patches! Looking at my Dad's photos makes me envious, but I know I'll be there soon enough and look forward working in the garden and camping out.
You know, since the first time I took my sweetie Kev to our land five years ago, we started keeping our camping equipment in the car all summer and fall, just in case we get a night or two to escape the city and get out to the countryside! Thank you Mum and Dad for making it all happen and for purchasing the 10 acres in Norfolk County that we are all so fond of!