October 2019 News

NOTE Our Off-Season Hours

The Pancake House Restaurant is currently closed for the season. The Maple Gift Shoppe remains open by appointment or chance. Call 613-256-3867 or email us at info@fultons.ca to find out when we are in the office and to set up a shopping date.

Scribbles by Shirley

I am excited to be back after a great summer of holidays, music concerts, reconnecting with friends, sharing time with family, football, university and high school graduations, strawberry socials, pig roasts, swim parties, birthdays and stories from Grands away at  summer camps. 

As a lover of Newfoundland, a highlight this summer was the Come From Away musical, a Broadway production we had the pleasure of seeing at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. 

Team Awesome had a number of holidays but with good planning the business was always covered. Loads of product is being shipped and sold from the farm. The Spring season has been analyzed, files sorted, and premises, desks and grounds tidied. Strawberries from McGregor's Produce and blueberries from Hugli's Blueberry Ranch were cleaned and frozen to be transformed into delicious jams later this Fall. Still to come are apples  from MacLaren Orchards to make our apple pies. We are so proud to support local farms in the Ottawa Valley. 

Scott had a big surprise requiring a major repair on the Blue Trail when a large tree fell and broke the main line, and snapped off the huge wooden ladder at the pump house. A new metal ladder is being installed and new cables and main line are being replaced. Scott has also rerouted the pipeline and done some clearing of underbrush, non-maple and selected smaller maple trees, to allow other maples access to sunlight. When a tree falls in the sugarbush it can do a massive amount of damage. 

I am always proud of our Pay It Forward jar. As a longstanding tradition our graduating staff (teens moving on to post-secondary schooling) choose a cause or organization dear to their hearts to donate the funds to. Graduating student Robyn Stanton decided that the money raised would go to Ronald McDonald House Ottawa. Robyn and I delivered a cheque for $660 earlier this summer. We were given a tour by Cheryl of this loving, safe, free and caring space for families and children who are receiving treatment at CHEO. We were fortunate to meet a Mom, Grandma and a darling little girl who have been at RMH for 9 months. They live a distance away and the Mom said they would have had to sell their home if their family had not received the support of this wonderful place.

We hope you can join us for the third annual Ladies Night, that we co-host with Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm. More info below. 

And finally, I encourage you to get out and enjoy those Fall colours! 

Sweet maple wishes to you,

Shirley Fulton-Deugo

4th Generation Owner

Fulton's Supports Ronald McDonald House

We were so pleased to be able to support Ronald McDonald House Ottawa with the proceeds of our Pay it Forward fund. Below are some photos of our visit, including graduating student Robyn presenting a cheque.  Manoir Ronald McDonald House Ottawa was founded in 1983. The House opened its doors to sick children and their families in June of 1984 and is part of a network of 14 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada. The House is managed by dedicated professional staff that, while small in number, is large in heart. They are blessed by the support of a full complement of hardworking, dedicated volunteers. The Ottawa House is located next to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. What an amazing resource to have available to our local families. 

Blue Trail Repairs

Here are some photos of the damage on the Blue Trail. The first two are of the massive rotten tree that fell on the pipeline during a big windstorm this summer. You can see where the black mainline got taken down by the other trees being dragged down. Look at the size of the new (metal) ladder that will replace the original wooden one that was ripped from it's supports on the side of the pumphouse. Scott will have everything repaired and in shape for the first snowfall and the Blue Trail will be in operation once again as a much-loved recreational trail during our Maple Season. 

The goal at the local fairs is to win so you an compete at the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair in Toronto in November. The higher your placing at the Royal, the more a company will pay for your steer. An auction is held and the highest bidder gets the animal. The 4-H member receives a lofty cheque (usually much more than the steer is worth). These companies show their support of the 4-H members by helping with a number of things; savings for education, investing in the farm or purchasing next year's calf. 

Farm kids have a love of animals and the knowledge to care for them. But along with this is the reality that these animals are for a purpose, whether it is breeding, milk, meat, eggs from chickens or geese or wool from a sheep. 

This thank-you note shows this understanding of the circle of life in a very humorous and honest way. 

The Royal Winter Agricultural Fair is celebrating 97 years this year, and will take place on November 1-10 2019. It's the largest indoor agricultural event in the world. Every year, 300,000 people come to The Royal to celebrate the very best food, livestock and horsemanship this country has to offer.

Written by Shirley Fulton-Deugo

Recipe of the Month

Roasted Root Vegetables with Maple Balsamic Dressing

Planning for company on Thanksgiving? Or looking for a Fall side dish that makes you think of comfort food? We really like this recipe for Roasted Root Vegetables with Maple Balsamic Dressing. You can find locally grown squash and other ingredients at Deugo Pumpkins and Gourds or at one of many Farmer's Markets in the area. Enjoy!

Upcoming Local Events

October 10 Downtown Almonte Fall Street Event, 5-9pm. Live music, instore specials, demonstrations, refreshments, etc. Local Almonte merchants will open their doors for an evening of shopping and fun. 

October 12-14 Crown and Pumpkin Studio Tour, 10am - 5pm daily. The Crown & Pumpkin Tour takes place every year over the Thanksgiving Weekend in the Almonte and Clayton areas in beautiful Eastern Ontario. 55+ artists displaying at 16 stops, five of which have lunch available. Meet the artists! Free admission. Wander, Savour, Collect! Further information here.