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TLobacco Harvest Nearly Fi*nished oThe Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, September 6, 1978 7 weelcena adL me Burtui p ride in their Iawns, some cottage, north of Kaladar. h aving to pay for having them No doubt every one read all cut so are far from happy news reports in the papers when people have no regard rega rdîng, "Canada Jam" for other people's property held at Mosport during the and like the nicely eut grass to weekehd of August 26. Maybe use as bathrooms. What would you'd like a report from the happen if the country people people who live on the main went and did the same to road leading into Mosport. them. "Think about it." -Give us the races any time, at- least they go in, in the As for the garbage, well that daylight. Maybe there is more was the worst it has ever been trouble in the park but at least but thanks to the Regional Co. they are off the public roads boys, things are nearly back to and ot causing disturbances normal. Where did the old to everyone living in the slogan go "Keep Ontario countryside. When you get two clean." To the Regional lanes of cars stopped bumper Police,, you did a wonderful to bumper from il p.m. to 7 job and many many thanks to alim. right outside your door, your men for their thoughtful- don't think there isn't any ness. Maybe beore thére is noise,, yelling and horn another "Can Jam" the blowing and you name it. The opinion of the people around peovle ini the country take Mosport should be contacted. (Intended for last week) Mr. Murray Tabb, Bow- manville, and Mr. Lawrence Tabb, Columbia, South Carolina, U. S. A. were Thursday evening visitors at Mr. and. Mrs. Wilbur Blackburn's. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Piggott and family, Enniskillen, were Sunday supper guests of Mr. and Mrs. Weir Swain. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dean, Orono, were Wednesday callers and Mr. and Mrs. John Ross, Scarborough were Sunday callers at Mr. and Mrs. F. Ashton's. Mr. and Mrs. John Sterrett, Brampton, were Sunday John Zoelman watches as his five-man picking crew begins another ro'w. Tobacco grower John Zoel man must check each Uin every few hours to seée that the temperatures, are just right. Tobacco leaves are cured at temperatures reaching 180 degrees fahrenheit. 'J 'Il a' .4 o Let The Diet Workshop Work For You! Across Ontario - Over 100 Locations For information on the Diet Workshop nearest you cali (416) 633-THIN (collect.) a The IDiet Work sh( iop - IT WORKS By Lynne Ainsworth Farming is a bit like gambling. A change in the weather can bring fortune or failure like the roll of a dice. For several tobacco growers in Northumberland- Durham the gamble hasn't paid off. The dîfficulty of finding good, steady labor has forced some growers to shut down their operations and either rent or sell their growing quotas. In recent years the shortage of farm help has put a severe strain on the farmer, forcing hlm to bring in off-shore labor. Like his neighbors, John Zoelman of R.R. 4, Bow- manville, employs men from Barbados to help him with bis harvest. Mr. Zoelman, along with another farmer who will use the men as apple pickers in the fali, must pay a round trip ticket on top of the wages. Bqcause the men are such good workers and dependable, be says they're worth every cent. A few years ago Mr. Zoelman tried using local labor, but found that tbey could not be counted on to finish the harvest. One year on the evening before he was about to begin barvesting the harvest, his workers phofled and told hlm they wouldn't be there as expected. "Money doesn't seem to be an incentive anymore," be says, "I'm' scared stiff to harvest witb local help because anytime tbey feel like quitting, they quit." Strict Schedule The tobacco farmer works on a strict time scbedule. Tobacco must be picked by mid-September because of a continual frost tbreat. Although mucb of the harvesting is no more de- manding than factory work, people are unwilling to take it on because the hourly wages are not as high. On the Zoelman farm harvesters earn about $33 a day for seven hours work. Board is included witb the pay. Mrs. Peter Tax, secretary of the region's tobacco grower' s association, agrees witb_ Mr. Zoelman. She says that at least one grower every year selîs out because of labor problems. Tobacco pickîng is hard work. But the days when laborers stooped from the waste down to pick the leaves are gone. Today, a tractor carrying five sitting men travels down the rows. As it moves, the men pick the leaves from the bottom up until the stalk is dlean. Mr. Zoelman says he'd like to pay his workers more, but anything higber than what they earn now would take away the profit. Without a profit he cannot re-invest in new equipment or make repairs. Ouf of every dollar spent on cigarettes the tobacco growers earn 7.5 cents, while the federal and provincial governments take a befty 59 cents in taxes. Despite all the risks Mr. Zoelman wouldn't be in any other business. A farmer by birfh, be spent five years away from the farmn as a factory worker and vows he'd neyer do it again. Born in Holland where his parents ran a mixed farm, he came to Canada on a holiday and liked whaf he saw. Working as a bired hand he learned the tobacco growing business from the ground up. In 1967 he began share- growrng, or managing for a local farmer. Four years later he bad the opportunity to buy the farm be now owns. With the help of his wife Magda and their three children, Lisa, Dennis and David, Mr. Zoelman has built himself a good business. Six-Day Week From April to October the Table workers on the Zoelman farm are sorting the tobacco leaves and preparing them for curing. winter. Wbile the Zoelmans may not be able to enjoy Onfario's beaches and water- ways tbey've compensated by taking up skiing. During the day, Mr. Zoelman cannot leave the farm for more than two hours in case something sbould go wrong and production is beld up. In another week his harvesfing will be completed. Once the tobacco is cured and graded if will be sold at auctions in Tillsonberg, Delhi and Elmira. SoId by Auction The auction exchange opens October 16. Each farmer is given a computerized number determining when he will take bis crop to the auction. The cqmputerized numbler. sysfem is a relatively new wayv to seil tobacco. It was intro- duced primarily to give each grower an equal opportunity fo seli bis crop for the best price. At one time the grower who was finished harvesting first got to selI first. It's about a 130-mile haul to Tillsonburg for Nortbumber- land-Durham region farmers. When selling was done on a first come basis tobacco buyers tended to offer growers who had travelled some distance a lower price, knowing they couldn't afford f0 pay the cost of sbipping it home, says Mr. Zoelman. Today, thanks to the lobbying of groups like Durham - Northumberland Reio Tobacco Growers, thaf prcie bas stopped., The association is also a social organization, says Mr. Zoelman. "The competitions, d ances and ,suppers sponsQzred by the association help keep things alive," he says-. "Farmers here are much more open with one another.. If tbey find sometbing interesting they share it with their neighbors. " Art (Introductoey and Advanc.d) Introductory - Tuesday Nights 50 Hours Covers awide variety of painting styles Advanced - Wednesday Nights 50 Hours Continuation of introductory course at * I BOWMANVILLE HfIGH SCHOOL Registration: Tues. and Thurs. Sept. I2th and l4th 7:00 - 9: 00 p. m. Ontario PUBLIC MEETING PROVINCIAL PARKS The Provincial Parks Council will hold a Public Meeting on Friday, Septem ber 8, 1978 at 7:30 p.m. in the Algonquin Room of the Rock Haven Motel, High- way 28, Peterborough, Ontario. The purpose of the meeting is to lîsten to any individual or group wishing to discuss matters relevant to policies, planning, operations, management and any other matter related to the Provincial Parks of Ontario. Individuals or groups wishing to be heard may contact the undersigned for an appointment time, or appear at the above named place. Dr. George Priddle, Chairman Provincial Parks Council Room 332 Environmental Studies Building University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 Telephone: (519) 885-1211 local 2762 Long Sault Mr. and Mrs. Don Stephen- son an 'd boys, Newcastle visifed Mr. and Mrs. H. Murphy. Several of the young people atfended tbe Toronto Exhibition this pasf week and also some of the other local fairs. Miss Wendy Cornish leff Tuesday f0 enroîl at Sir Sandford Fleming College, Peterborough, for the coming year. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Cornish, Mr. and Mrs. Gerry Cornisb were guests of the fhirtietb wedding anniversary in, bonor of Mr. and Mrs. Kennefh Bufson, R.R. 2, Blacksfock, beld Safurday evening af their home. Tuesday morning was back f0 school again for our local young people. We welcome Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Goble and boys, Orono fo our communify,' fhey are moving int o the bouse previously vacafed by the Carley family. Mrs. Walter Vaneyk, Bow- manville, was a Sunday guest of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Penwarden. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Pen- warden were Sunday evening vîsifors of Mr. and Mrs. Wade Penwarden. Mr. Garry Baker spent lasf week af Madawaska Volley Baîl camp. Mr. Gordon Baker spent the NANCYELLEN BICKELL A 70-year resident of Burketon, Mrs. Nancy Ellen (Bead) Bickell, passed away in her 84th year on August 27, 1978. She had been ill for six montbs. The daughter of Seth and Mary Dean, Mrs. Bickell was born and educated in Burketon. On November 7, 1912 she married Alfred H. Bickell. A member of St. Jobn's Anglican Church, she is survived by five children and numerous grandchildren and great grandcbildren. They are: Lorn and Jean, Bowman- ville, Dean, Oshawa; Isobel, (Mrs. J. Johns) Oshawa; Dorothy (Mrs. R. Williamson) Toronto. Dear sister of the late Mrs. S. McKnight (Christina), Mrs. S. West (Margaret), .Charles, Archie and Cecil Dean. visitors wîth the Arthur Trewin family and Mrs. M. Anderson. Mr. Bil Potts, Port Elgin spent the weekend at his home, Mr. and Mrs. Weir Swain and Mrs. Bert Ashton, attend- ed the Blackstock Fair and the supper, at the Church Hall. A number from Haàydon attended the Blackstock Fair on Saturday, Farmers are busy combining their grain. With the school huliday nearly over, students wîll be going back to school on Tuesday, September 5th. The funeral took place on August 30, 1978 at Morris Funeral Chapel in Bowman- ville. Rev. Thomas Gracie: from St. John's Anglican Church officiated the service. Music was provided by Mrs. Grace Smith. Palîbearers were: Fred Johns, Glen Williamson, Cecil Dean, Dwight Dean, William West and Ray Westlake. Floral arrangements were sent by the United Steel Workers of America and Durham Regional Police. The interment was at Bow- mnantiIle cemeterv DIRI< BRINKMAN Scugog st.. d Bowmnanvflle St-a-teFarm Fire and Casualt3 Company OBIu ARY 138 Wharf Rd. Bowmanviîle Phono 623-5051 24 Hour T Home Fuel Service E A O 01Dliveries Furnace Cleanouts HumIdifiers 1Combustion Electronlc Air Efficiency Tests Cleaners Furnace Installations *' LIII ~rn