OLD Macdonald had a farm

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PEI is often called the garden province. As you tour Prince Edward Island, you will see many sights like this.  There are potato fields everywhere.  PEI is well known for potatoes but that is not all they grow.  PEI also grows quite a bit of field and cereal crops:  wheat, oats, barley, mixed grain, soybeans, etc.

I do not have any late summer pictures but imagine what a scene this this would be with the wind blowing through a field of wheat or barley.  Note that these are large pictures. Click once on the picture to see it full size.

Fruit, vegetable, beef and dairy round up the major agricultural products.  Recently, I visited a dairy farm.  I saw cows being milked and went to the calf barn to see the young’uns.  If you have never visited a farm before, a farm tour can be a rewarding experience.

It was interesting to see how the cows learn the routine quickly.  They know when it is milking time and push their way up to the front of the line.  They know when they take their spot in the milking parlour that they will get “special feed.” After the first group come sin, the rest wait patiently for their turn.  Even in a small operation (20 or so head) it is surprising how a little bit of ingenuity makes milking an efficient operation.

PEI Open Farm Day was held on the weekend of September 19 2010.  This is a yearly event where you can visit dozens of various farm activities.  I have seen beekeeping, apple orchards (u-pick of course), sheep farms, alpaca and turkey.  So if panning a trip to PEI in the early fall, remember to look into open farm day.  During the summer, there are also farms open for tours and visits.  The government website speaks of hay rides, touring vineyards and other activities but I cannot seem to locate any.  Perhaps this is a job for the friendly “visitor centre” staff.  Check when you arrive for Farm tours or agri-tourism.

Tune in tomorrow for Parks.

Granny ~oo~