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A Farmer Does All Sorts of Things |
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- by Susan McIver -
Raising chickens is just one of Jean Lauer's many activities. She and husband Frank own a small farm at 10808 Rutherford Avenue, Summerland.
"Farmers have to do all sorts of things to make a living these days," Jean said.
One of these endeavors for the Lauers is Jean's egg business.
She keeps over 90 Hi-Liner hens. These are small birds that were bred solely for egg production. Hens start to lay eggs at four months and continue to produce for approximately one year. Each hen produces from 300 to 500 eggs in her life. "The chickens are kept as free-range as possible," Jean said.
In the summer they run outside during the day. In the late fall through early spring they are kept in a large barn day and night for protection from hungry coyotes.
The wood shavings used in the chicken barn are eventually mixed with manure from the Lauer's pleasure horse, composted, and spread on the orchard.
Frank and Jean also grow 14 varieties of pears on 5.5 acres. In addition to the well-known Bartlett, Anjou and Bosc varieties, they have such varieties as Alexander Lucus, Aurora and Triumph de Vienna. On-farm customers frequently take home a few of the unusual varieties only to return for many more. "Most people are interested in trying something new," Jean commented.
This past summer that something new included an especially tasty Korean pear-apple known as Arirgang. As well, the Lauers raise 14 varieties of apples, including a number of heritage varieties. "Bel de Boscoup is a wonderful cooking apple," Jean said.
She and Frank also produce peaches, nectarines, plums, prunes, walnuts and hazelnuts. The couple do all the work themselves and most of their fruit is sold to BC Fruit Packers. In addition to fresh fruit, nuts, and eggs, on-farm customers can also purchase Jean's dried and candied fruit and jam.
Both Frank and Jean also operate an excavation contracting business. They specialize in jobs suited to their small equipment, such as home sewers, back fills, repair of water lines and preparation of footings - they also do snowplowing.
Jean is the manager of Sungate Plaza and the census commissioner for Summerland. In the 1980s she served a term as alderman. |
