The base for our culture is always the land. There are sound reasons for this, not romantic, old fashioned imaginings.
The Land
Naturally Fertile Soils:
By the late 19th century, South Easthope’s soils were highly regarded. The Beldon Historical Atlas of 1879 declared that in proportion to its acreage “it is the most valuable piece of territory within the whole of the Huron District.”
Today, these soils enable South Easthope to be part of one of Ontario’s most productive agricultural regions. And while their potential fertility was recognized by surveyors and settlers right from the beginning, the township’s soils have always needed good management to become fully productive, especially the more level parts which are often so flat they’ve been described as resembling the floor of an ancient lake.[1]
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Almost two hundred years after these lands were settled; the land has been nurtured and remains some of the most productive farmland in Ontario, if not Canada. It is difficult to find a farm that is not viable, in economic terms. This exceptional soil is the underlying reason farms have stayed profitable and remained largely in the hands of generational farm families who know the value of this land.
The People
Report F Cultural Heritage, section 5.0, identifies built remnants but not the existing cultural landscape. Cemeteries garner recognition but not members of the founding families who CONTINUE to farm, build community and remain stewards of the land.
For example, the Dietrich’s are original settlers arriving in the area between 1780-1800 . Seven generations have continued to farm.
Over time, these families have developed the skills and knowledge needed to continue this prosperity while passing on their experience from fathers to sons or daughters. The desire to retain this land in the family has also created a ‘culture’ of growth and investment by these same families.
For example, the Dietrich’s are original settlers arriving in the area between 1780-1800 . Seven generations have continued to farm.
Over time, these families have developed the skills and knowledge needed to continue this prosperity while passing on their experience from fathers to sons or daughters. The desire to retain this land in the family has also created a ‘culture’ of growth and investment by these same families.
Founding Families for the purposes of this report are those who settled in Wilmot West, South Easthope and the Gore of Downie townships. Their great-great grandfathers and/or grandmothers cleared the land, built the first homes, churches and schools of the region and their names dominate the cemeteries of our local churches.
The Economy
These founding family names still dominate our community farms to this day. A cursory review of local history books reveals a substantial number of families, who settled in this region and still farm here today. Like the Dietrich family mentioned above, they are raising the 6th and 7th generation of farmers.
The area has also attracted newer farm families from many countries. They settled here in the decades after WWII and have the same ‘culture’ of raising and establishing, the 3rd generation into agriculture. The same desire to retain the land in the family continues to create a ‘culture’ of growth and investment, like those before them. This phenomenon is not accidental.
The area has also attracted newer farm families from many countries. They settled here in the decades after WWII and have the same ‘culture’ of raising and establishing, the 3rd generation into agriculture. The same desire to retain the land in the family continues to create a ‘culture’ of growth and investment, like those before them. This phenomenon is not accidental.
To put a business face on this, compare our family businesses, their large numbers and the length of time they have remained, viable, economic drivers of our economy, to the number of generational family businesses in an urban environment.
The Economic Planning Department of Stratford has informed us that only about six businesses in their community still survive from the early 1900’s. This tends to follow a known pattern for family companies that are well documented. While in the three townships, at minimum we have 50, in the relatively small area south of highway 7 and 8.
In addition, these family businesses have survived and prospered far, far longer than the norm. Many dating from the early 1800’s. This also demonstrates a trend for Perth County at large.
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The stretch of land from South of New Hamburg between highway 7 and 8 and the old Huron road, along line 33 and line 29, to the other side of the City of Stratford, is some of the very best farmland in Canada. It is the foundation of the high number of generational family farm businesses that dominate the area.
The land is valuable, in high demand and coveted for a variety of business related reasons. There is no more to be had. It is our industrial and economic engine and its impact and worth to our communities cannot continue to be ignored.
To the uneducated eye land is just land. Even with its higher priority in the Provincial Policy Statement, few urban residents or governments really understand what that means. We believe that by defining our culture, in real terms others may begin to understand who we are, why we value this land and what we contribute. Our hope is that better methods can be found for other planners, consultants and governments to use in the future.
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