|
Changing Careers Meant Going Back to the Land |
|
|
|
2006-05 - by Susan McIver -
Bent and Bev Hansen, owners of Ausden Organic Farm at 29686 Highway 97 in Oliver, have taken on the challenge of farming as their latest career. Not only are the Hansens learning how to farm, they are busy restoring the neglected land to its former productive state.
"The Hack family established a 60-acre farm here in the 1920s and ran a very successful operation for years," said Bent. The property went through a number of owners before the Hansens bought 11 acres of the original farm in 2002.Seven of those acres are back in production.
Bent and Bev have planted 4000 bench-grafted trees, mainly Ambrosia but also Royal Galas and some Pink Ladies, on two and one-half acres cleared of old trees. "We've kept some mature trees - Spartans, Transparents, McIntosh and Red Delicious - for our own use and for juice," Bev said.
Two years ago, the Hansens planted 1500 asparagus plants and are expecting their first harvest this spring. There are also 33 Bing cherry trees that the Hansens are nursing back to full vigour. Although still low, the average total yield of 450 kilograms of cherries per year is much higher than it was. "We also produce about 900 kilograms each of Golden and Italians plums," said Bev, who enjoys making jam out of excess fruit. This year she and Bent will be expanding into vegetables - Asian varieties as well as more familiar types - and flowers.
The Hansens raise free-range Cornish Giant chickens as meat birds. These large birds feed in the cherry orchard where they help to break the cherry fruit fly cycle, keep the orchard clean and contribute fertilizer, all the while producing marketable meat. Bev and Bent also raise chickens for their eggs, mostly Isa Browns but also a few Bantams and two Ameraucanas. The latter are noted for their small blue-green eggs. "I wanted the Ameraucanas so we could have green eggs and ham," joked Bev. Ausden Farm produce and eggs are sold on-farm and through Localmotive Organic Delivery service. Most of the fruit goes to Cawston Cold Storage.
"I've lost 30-pounds and gained a lot of muscle," said Bent, who considers his physical fitness one of the benefits of becoming a farmer.
The house, outbuildings and lawns occupy two of the four acres that aren't in production. The remaining two acres that lie above the flume are being left in their natural state. The Hansens are strong supporters of The Land Conservancy, an organization dedicated to conservation and promotion of wildlife habitat friendly agriculture .The flume was built by Premier John Oliver's government to irrigate the South Okanagan in order to provide farmland for veterans returning from WWI.
"We named the farm "Ausden" in honour of our native countries," said Bev, who was born and raised in Australia. A native of Denmark, Bent immigrated with his family to Australia when he was 19.The couple married in 1966 and moved to Canada a year later. They have four children and four grandchildren.
Bev who earned a master's degree in genetics, has been the principal of three learning centres - Oliver, Osoyoos and Keremeos - since their inception in 1993.Originally a physiotherapist, Bent subsequently earned a master's degree in health care administration and finance. He was the administrator for several health care facilities and later a consultant before becoming a farmer.
For information visit the website www.ausden.com or call 495-7936. |
