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In and About Cedar Ridge Orchard

(Under continuing construction)

FLOWERS and TREES

Planted Pansies on a made hill

Nasturtiums blooming in early May

Coleus growing in shade along sidewalk at front of house

The front yard has many perennials like these Hydrangea

Lilac bushes were planted on the side of the house

Dandelions predominate in early May

Planted Black Locust trees in bloom

Apple blossoms abound in May

Planted Comfrey growing around base of barn in the Spring

Fancy Irises

Yellow Irises

Planted Peony

Large Honey Dew Bush in front of house.

Scarlet maple trees in Autumn lit up by a bright sunset

Crops

My grand daughter, April, sitting between two giant pumpkins at Cedar Ridge Orchard.

A new crop of laying hens being kept warm

Vegetable garden

Honey production

Raspberry production

Ponds

In some years, I set up a fish pond in a dug cavity in the front yard that is over 3 feet deep.

Year-round pond with fountain

There is a large seasonal pond on the property that is about 70 feet across and about 3 feet deep at the deepest end. I have raised some fish in it, but the Blue herons and marsh birds have come up from the swamp and wiped them out on me. Also, the pond will not hold water during periods of draught, and the well can not stand the constant drain of water flowing in a hose to keep it wet. Therefore, now, I let it dry out after the salamander newts, and the frog and toad tadpoles leave the water.

One Spring, I noticed Red Flame sitting over by the pond watching a beaver that had come up from the swamp. She was fascinated with it and watched it for days. Finally, she jumped in the water and began to chase it, but the wily beaver was too quick for her.

After two days of these games, the beaver got tired of it and bit Flame from underneath. She promptly came crying home. That was the last time she ever played with a beaver

Solarium

In 2001/2002, I built a 9.5' by 6' solarium including a 48" deep by 6' long by 3' wide cement fish pond. I stocked it with 6 Koi Carp and 12 Goldfish. It is a relaxing place to go read a newspaper or just watch the antics of the fishes, no matter what the weather is like outside..

Feeding time in the solarium pool

This inside cement pool is 6' long by 3' wide by 4' deep, and is lined thrughout with black epoxy paint
to give the illusion of an infinite depth. It is ice-free all year.

Aw, come out and play guys.

Feeding the Wild Birds , and squirrels

There are about 14 bird feeders on the property, most over amongst the Cedar trees where Chickadees, Blue jays, Sparrows, and Squirrels can get a boost for the sparse winter months.

Old fashioned Javel water jugs (with the spouts at the centre) make excellent feeders. I cut six each two inch diameter holes around the sides for entrances.

I find they have to be replenished every few days.

I have noticed that Cottontail rabbits and Varying Hares come around and inspect the ground for any spare droppings. The birds are very 'messy' eaters and drop more than they eat..
I have never seen any 'flying squirrels around here, but friends in Timmins, much farther north, see them at their feeders.

I don't mind feeding the squirrels during the winter. They hoard food for the cold winter months, but a nice light snack of sunflower seeds can't be resisted.
It took some patience to finally get a photo of this little fellow peaking out of the feeder where he would show up in a picture.

The gray squirrels here are giant size and black.

Cats

Our two cats; Honey and Muffin. Muffin was a tortoise shell neutered female and Honey was a Persian male. Both are deceased now.
Muffin had been across Canada twice, once by airplane, and once by automobile.

Honey belonged to Diana, I was 'baby sitting' him for a couple of years.
Although he looked quite docile, he could take care of himself in a cat fight. He used to occasionally visit a farm barn across the road to see some feline girl friends.

Pigs

We had two Yorkshire pigs for our own use. It is better to buy meat when one knows what the animal was fed these days.

They were quite docile once they got used to me and their new home. I found they would produce tremendous body heat & would warm up the inside of their building with no need for electric heaters.

They were very fastidious animals, and kept their bodies very clean. This photo was taken when they were about 100 lbs.

They were marketed at about 250 lbs.

Wild Boar

We have about 12 - 30 boars at any one time.

We started with two European wild boars that were taken by the SPCA from an abusive situation. They both appeared healthy. The female is pregnant, and we are looking forward to watching her babies grow. I think, by her condition, she will have them in April, which seems to be the natural time of year for northern forest animals to birth. The male is the boss, but is not mean to her. Regardless, I will separate them when the birthing time arrives. They eat 'mixed chop' grain (which is ground up very fine) and occasionally, some vegetable scraps I manage to obtain from a local grocer. I was told they have never been separated, so I will have to be careful when keeping him away from her during birthing, (and for awhile afterwards.)
The male is quite protective of the sow and will not hesitate to protect her if he thinks she is threatened. Here, he is standing in front and she is partially hidden behind him.
These fellows are the ancestors of our barnyard pigs, and are found in the wild in Europe, and as far east as Siberia, where they are hunted by Siberian Tigers and Wolves.

Unlike their parents, baby wild boars are born red with black stripes. In the first year, they lose most of the redness and it fades to black. Their mother is very possessive and will not stand for other boars tormenting them.

The females will eat other mothers' babies so expectant mothers have to be separated from the others before giving birth.

Unlike domestic pigs, boars have only three or four piglets at a time and that is it.

Surprisingly, the old boar does not bother the young ones and they actually seek his company when the entire group is eating as they know from experience that he will not hurt them.

On cold nights, the large male boar goes to his favourite dug hole and lies in it, then about five other boars will come and lie on him to share the warmth. On some winter mornings, all one sees is a large mound of snow until they stir and shake the snow off.

Another mother and some triplets this time. I keep each litter separate from others until they can look after themselves.

Their most dangerous antagonists are the other mothers, who have no time for them. Mixing them too soon with the regular herd will result in scratches and perhaps more serious injuries.

A group of four wild boar piglets wandering around the property at will.

Vietnamese Pot-bellied Pigs

These are quite mischievous and intelligent animals, although they have the typical pig attributes of stubbornness and a penchant for getting into trouble.
Once they experience something, they remember it for the rest of their lives.
This is 'Blanche' and friend, who lived on the farm for awhile.

There is another white one now living with the sheep and goats. Her name is "Blanche" also.

Sheep, Goats (& Geese)

We have 16 goats and 15 sheep at this time.

This fellow has a huge battering ram for a head. And he knows how to use it. He is a 5 year old horned Dorset. He has to be watched by anyone venturing into his space, especially during rutting season. Even Betty the goat gives him space.

He is called "Rambut" and is the undisputed 'boss' of his herd. He belongs to my daughter Tanya and her partner, Chris.

Now remember, follow me and stay in a single file

Cattle

This is Newton, a proud purebred Scottish Highland bull.

This is Heather, a Highland cow, cleaning up her first born calf, Hester
Hester is now larger than Heather.

2006 crop of Highland cattle, Hester (b:14 Feb), Shamus (b: 29 March) and Snowflake (b: 06 June)
(Snowflake is pure white with blue eyes.)

Reforestation

A lot of work has been done to plant trees and other plants on the property. About 500 Red Pine, 200 White Cedar, 100 Black Locust, 50 Hybrid Poplars, and several kinds of decorative plants have been started. There are now about 10 thriving Asparagus plants in the back yard and near the south-west side of the barn, where they will be protected from an northern winds. Cat-tails have been planted in and around the pond and an artificial swamp near the bird enclosures. Weeping willows have been replanted at the pond side.

Marsh Marigolds transplanted to the large pond from a swampy area about a mile away

There are about 14 Colorado Blue Spruce planted at the front on the eastern side. They are fairly slow growing so it will be quite a few years before they can be enjoyed in their full maturity.

During a dry summer, I have to ensure they get enough water.

These trees were developed by the Ontario Dept of Natural Resources to grow very quickly. They are only about eight years old and are already over forty feet high

Land Reclamation

When I first came here in July of 1990, I found several areas where there was refuse, glass, cement, wood, etc. dumped. Those areas were devoid of any life and were a scar on the landscape, so I cleaned them all up and planted grass. There also was a large trench scrapped down to bedrock about a hundred feet long and about fifteen feet wide. It was very unsightly, so over the years, I have been filling it in with soil, animal manure, and ashes, etc. I left an area about forty feet long for an 'artificial' swamp to plant cattails, loose-strife, and other marshy plants. It is a good substitute for a pond during the summer months, as I can keep it partially filled with water. It has a lot of cover, so frogs, toads, snakes, etc. are to be found there..

I dug a drainage ditch down to bed rock and about three hundred feet long down at the lowest level of the property so it would not flood every Spring.

Wildlife

There are abundant white tail deer herds in this vicinity. It is not uncommon to see one or more deer munching on the grass or buds in one of our back fields. I have seen some come to within about fifty feet of the main barn. One particular doe has set up a home range in our 'hardwoods', where she regularly raises a fawn or two every year.

Three white tail deer grazing in the outside field at 8:PM.

This is "Bambi", a young doe that was hit by a motor vehicle near here and suffered shock and a possible concussion.. She was brought to me to dispatch, but I thought she could be saved. I had a veterinarian come and examine her and he said she had no obvious broken bones.

After three days of recuperation, she appeared to be improving so she was taken back to where her mother had been seen looking for her. We saw her again in the company of her mother, so I am fairly certain she is doing okay.

An unfortunate accident that had a happy ending.