Thank you to all who came out to the first Friends of the Farm
Clean Up the Farm Day on Saturday, May 11, 2013.
There were about 30 people all ages that came out and collected many, many bags of litter. We covered much of the Farm and the Trail. It was satisfying and a lovely walk round the Farm on a pleasant spring morning.
We will do this again next year!
Thanks!
FRIENDS OF THE FARM P.E.I.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, November 6th, 2012
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Charlottetown Farm Center, 420 University Avenue, RM# 105
GUEST SPEAKER: Charlottetown Historian Catherine Hennessey
TOPIC: RAVENWOOD: An Early Estate, A Place in History, A Local Treasure
At the request of the Simmonds/MacEachern family, The Friends of the Farm have set up a fund in memory of our friend and board member Janice Simmonds.
Anyone wishing to donate to the fund may send a cheque payable to :
The Friends of the Farm PEI
P.O. Box 265,
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 7K4.
The large floral crown was re-established in 2011 by Friends of the Farm. Located adjacent to the Royal Grove of trees near Ravenwood House, for many years this had been a regular stop for bus tours of Charlottetown. It also served as a colourful backdrop for wedding parties and other photo opportunities. Eventually budget restraints at the Research Station resulted in the removal of the crown.
After an absence of seven years, a number of community-minded companies contributed to building the mound and supplying sod. And for the second year in a row, Vankampen’s Greenhouses of Charlottetown have provided the almost 1600 plants at a favourable price. Planted by Agriculture and Agri Foods Canada staff, the result of the co-operative effort is a beautiful addition to the area.
On Monday May 28, 2012 the board of The Friends of the Farm were deeply saddened to learn of the
passing of Janice Simmonds. Janice was a long serving member of the board and in recent years served
as board chair.
The passion and love for the environment in particular the Charlottetown Experimental Farm was
evident in any project she undertook.
As a board we have lost our chair person, but more importantly we have all lost a dear friend. Janice’s
dedication, passion and positive attitude will continue to serve as an inspiration as our work continues.
The board of The Friends of the Farm extend our sincere condolences to Janice’s husband Percy and
the entire Simmonds / MacEachern families .
“Keep your faith in all beautiful things; in the sun when it is hidden, in the spring when it is gone.”
The Friends of the Farm hosted a public lecture by Kevin Garvey entitled “The History of Apple Farming on P.E.I. and the Art of Growing Apples,” on Wednesday, May 23, 7 pm, at the Farm Centre, University Avenue. Mr Garvey has researched extensively the apple growing indistry on PEI. He described the early apple orchards on PEI, informing that there was once an apple orchard on the Experimental Farm and at the turn of the 20th centruy there were 200,000 apple trees on PEI. He also described the process of devloping an apple orchard and where the present day orchards can be found.
Kevin Garvey with Nora Jenkins and Lane MacLaren, members of the Board of the Friends of the Farm. (Need to find this picture)
Janice Simmonds thanks Mayor Clifford Lee for his ongoing support