Saturday, December 2, 2017

Farms Near Meaford

I finally got a chance to go exploring some of the backroads south-west of Meaford today, following the course of the Bighead River.  Along the way I picked up a few shots of barns, and got an impression of the farmland here.  The impression was not good!

This is a barn I've driven by before, and just like the colour and how it appears well-cared for.  But you don't get a very good view of it.

The six barns I've posted pictures of tonight are on farms that look to me relatively prosperous, at least for this part of Ontario.  But in between was a lot of very scrubby farmland, with a lot of intervening wetlands and forest.

It looks to me that 90% of the farms are pasture and hay, typical small beef operations.  And the landscape is very rolling, making cash crops difficult.

At least some of them do look well cared for, and active.

 This is the only barn I saw that actually looked new, and it may be a small dairy herd, judging from the barn and silo.

And this is definitely the largest operation and most prosperous on my route, likely a dairy farm.  The old barn actually looks quite interesting architecturally, with that narrow raised roof down the centre that forms a clerestory.  Unusual to see on the older barns around here.

Overall though, the farmland I saw today does not look as good as the area further south where we used to live, and it certainly doesn't look anything like the rich flat farmland and big farm operations we see further south when we drive to London to visit those hospitals!



15 comments:

  1. Oh, but I do love these. Specially that last. I don't think I have ever seen anything quite like it around here. I look forward to more of your exploring.

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  2. Your barns are all very well put together, it seems to me. I like that first red one and the last one the most. Thank you for sharing. :-)

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  3. There appears to be quite a difference from your previous home though they aren’t that far apart

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  4. Hello, wonderful collection of farm and barn photos. The first two are my favorites. Happy Sunday, enjoy your day and new week ahead!

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  5. Lovely! Sometimes I wonder how some of the old barns stay standing. The grey sun beaten look is the look many of us strive to get on our new buildings.

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  6. That last barn is very interesting! I need to spend a whole day photographing barns around here so many are ready to fall over. I see you have the same snow amount as us..none:)

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  7. Interesting how every area has something different. The last barn looks like many additions.
    MB

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  8. Still the photos you posted are a great collection of barns.

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  9. If you can find a soil map for the area that may well tell you why the farms don't look very prosperous. Down here the soil maps for the entire country are on-line (https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm) and, although the site's not user friendly, the soil maps are on aerial photos and there's lot of information to be gleaned .

    Just did a quick check and the soil surveys for Ontario are also on-line, but I didn't check to see how detailed the maps are.

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  10. There are lots of dairy farms along the Washington/BC border. Have you ever read Border Songs? It's an interesting book about an immigration officer, a BC "girlfriend," birding, drug smuggling and dairy farming. Quite a mix. - Margy

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  11. Those farms look very peaceful.

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  12. Interesting barns!
    Have a wonderful week!

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  13. Interesting mix of types. We have that here, too.

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  14. I love the last photo with the great sky!

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