We had a wonderful day with Bob Bowles learning about pioneer and indigenous roads in the perfect location for apple growing: the Beaver Valley.

We toured the historic Old Mail Road along the Heathcote Moraine, imagining the high and dry access this gave the early settlers and indigenous people.

The first land surveyors, by comparison, blazed through wetlands to layout roads and land plots in straight lines with only a survey’s chain and compass.

The Old Mail Road linked Post Offices along the way and was used by pioneer settlers from as early as 1835.

However, this same trail was used by the First Nation People as early as 11,000 years ago when the ice melted and exposed the top of the Heathcote Moraine creating an Indigenous Route.

After Bob’s tour and talk through history on the Moraine, we circled back around to The Farmer’s Pantry where we enjoyed a wonderful apple sampling, and a tour of the orchard with our host Sarah Hewgill.

We toured the orchard, picking our favourite apples, then enjoyed lunch with apple pie and a great talk with Bob about the history of apple growing and apple varieties.

The Beaver Valley is exceptional for apple growing due to a unique combination of geographic features that create an ideal microclimate and perfect soil conditions for growing apples. 

This was a great day, ending with handouts including Bob’s extensive list of apple varieties of the Beaver Valley. 

Thanks Bob!