St Jacobs is 140km NW of Markham. It is popular with
tourists due to its Mennonite Heritage and the huge Farmers Market which is the
largest year round market in Canada. There are approximately 4,000 Old Order
Mennonites in St Jacobs. Old Order Mennonites shun all technology and live
traditional lives. Modern Mennonites use modern machinery and electronics and
Progressive Mennonites integrate into mainstream life. The children finish
school at age 14, work on the family farm for two years before going out to learn
a trade that will benefit the family, some will then return to the family farm
others seek employment elsewhere. We had a tour of a Mennonite Family farm. It is really
interesting and seems to be a great way of life. The farms are beautiful and
fully self-sufficient.
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| Wonky Dresser $4500 Wooden Clock $900 -handmade from Canadian wood |
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| The Mennonite Family Farm we visited |
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| Our horse and buggy tour (Dexter and Daisy) |
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| Some of the buggy's on the farm |
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| Maple Forest - 40 litres of sap equals 1 litre of syrup |
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| This Maple tree is 300 years old |
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| Family home and workshop |
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| To be lovingly restored by the farmer to use on his farm |
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| Corn feed for the dairy cows |
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| Bird nesting and feeding houses |
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| Farmyard animals |
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| Quilts made and sold by the Ladies of the house |
As Newton’s name is unique it is a challenge to find it written
anywhere, but being a super sleuth I found a little town called Newton just
outside of St Jacobs. We stopped on the side of the road for a photo shoot.
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| Newton - a little town with a big heart |
We passed these moving hay bales but were not quick enough
to get a rear photo. The mode of transport was a forklift with one guy driving
and approximately 5 children hanging on for dear life.
Young ladies out for a Saturday drive. How cool would it be to drive horse and buggy to town for your weekly shop.
