Every so often, taking pictures just won't work. Like today - when we respected Mennonite folks' desires not to be photographed.
We were on a mission: to help a Northumberland Land Trust donor pick up fence posts and boards from a Mennonite-owned sawmill near Stirling. It was one of those times when you say, "Yes" to a request, not knowing what it was you said "Yes." to.
We met the donor, Rob De Lint at the land trust site. He joined us in the truck and we headed eastward towards Stirling. I knew that there were some Mennonites settled there, but I had no idea that there were so many. There are 39 Mennonite families living north of Belleville.
On the first farm we picked up 24 cedar fenceposts. It was a joy to see the creativity of these folks' business. And, we were all grateful when the young man offered to hand-bomb the posts onto our trailer.
The second farm was a few km away. The boards Rob had ordered - and know this: these folks don't use phones or internet - were laying, nicely stacked with spacers between them so they would dry. Again, a young man offered to load the trailer by hand.
This is where I'll start my "words worth a thousand pictures" part.
Sawmill slicing 8" boards.
Dark blue pants, light blue shirt, straw hat & black suspenders.
Long ridge of sawdust next to the saw.
Board fence leading to white farm house.
Large weeping willow in front.
Horse patiently waiting with its buggy attached.
Red slow-moving triangle on back of buggy.
Little boy with a big straw hat on, pulling a little red wagon.
Little blonde 2 year old girl with short bangs playing with a toy on the step.
"Country Store" building. Ring bell for service.
Unker's Therapeutic Rub.
Cases of canning jars.
Harmonicas. $60.00
Dairy cows in surrounding pastures.
Flock of white sheep on the hill.
Since the 1970's Rob de Lint has been restoring this property: “What was once a largely agricultural property has since been managed, under Mr. de Lint’s direction, to restore the forested drumlin, stabilize the creek bank with a vegetated buffer and maintain the grasslands through light cattle grazing.”
It's lovely when a new acquaintance shares your love of exploring back roads. We drove on roads we'd never been on before and certainly will explore again soon. What a beautiful part of the province.
After sharing a meal and hearing many stories and doing "Dutch Bingo" - i.e. he knows my cousin, he is good friends with Ted's cousin's wife, we got to view the Land Trust site.
It's a property I want to explore more fully with my camera.
And, the cattle grazing in the pastures belonged to another friend of ours.
I am glad we said, "Yes." when asked to help out. I am more glad and thankful that there are people in our county who take the long-term view and have put measures in place to preserve and restore beautiful natural spaces like the de Lint Reserve.
Our grandchildren will thank them.
If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow,
we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology.
We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created,
not just as it looked when we got through with it.
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