2009 Conservation Award Winners
Dorothy and Cliff operate a Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farm operating under the name of CD Trees. Most of their tree sales are choose and cut where families come out mostly on weekends to enjoy a family outing to cut their Christmas tree. Horse drawn sleigh rides and fire pits are available that add to the enjoyment of the day for their customers. In the summer months they are busy growing vegetables that are sold at some of the local farmers markets.
Their initial motivation for undertaking the water retention project with the Seine-Rat River Conservation District was for the obvious benefits of water retention - water filtration, wildlife habitat enhancement and reduction of pressure on the local drain. It was only after the project was completed that they realized other benefits more directly related to their farming operation. They have developed a water pond near the yard that can be filled from the retention area. The water is then used from the pond for irrigation for the vegetable crops during dry periods. The pond also serves as an added recreation area for their tree customers at Christmas time, with some of them enjoying a family skate. Access to one of their more remote tree fields is by horse drawn rides along the project dike. The pleasant view of the wetland area that was created is a popular attraction for most people.
In summary the project made use of some marginal farmland that was subject to periodic flooding and turned it into a more permanent wetland area that fits well with their tree farming operation. The SRRCD has been very pleased with the cooperation and partnership with Cliff & Dorothy on this project, and are proud to name them this year’s Conservation Award winner.