BradfordToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following poem was submitted by Walter Prokopchuk.
The Pioneers That Feed Us: Thank You
In Holland Marsh's infancy, its growers grew relentlessly,
First, fed our people locally, progressed to internationally
With their steadfast perseverance, but with climate as their rival:
Canadians, new immigrants, would endure for their survival.
While in that time of turbulence, and prior to AI's influence,
Would first come Bill - and then Boris, to struggle with much diligence,
To adapt, surpass all difficulties; learn to survive, then next to thrive:
Smith Gardens there, Horodynsky Farms here, devoted with inherent drive.
Both from same humble beginnings, they challenged their 2 different soils:
Bill in Toronto's Black Creek lowland, and Boris in Colbar Marsh toiled;
To now today - Bill's Keswick farm, on Lake Simcoe's south-eastern side
Matched by Boris's high yields, west in Cookstown Marsh, with pride.
In Keswick Bill first drained the swamp, eventually, then grass turn over
With breaking-plow, create the fields, to sow his crops; while, moreover
Boris with his driven grit, machines and gifted intuition
Would mill lumber from bush-felled trees, to build his barns, as per his vision.
Yes! Both men would truly be, by modern day - and old tradition -
The pioneers of their virgin lands, achieving most respected positions:
Bill's family grow parsnips and beets, and carrots on their fertile soils;
Boris and his brother grow onions, and soybeans for its much sought oil.
Though Boris here, yet Bill be not, we must recall, what they were taught
With blood, sweat, tears in earlier years, to our tables what they had brought:
The radishes and lettuces, bunched carrots/beets, leek, celery,
Till now their specialized crops drenched with, just qualitative quantity.
Thus, accolades to Boris be, as well to Bill posthumously:
Working through nights, 20-hour days, to bear whate'er necessity
To battle weeds and crops' diseases, as well 'gainst all Mother's climate throws,
Instead to have Her artist's brush, paint hues within your landscaped rows.
And know that we are grateful for, the realms that both farm's minds explore
To innovate, accelerate, new methods to open biggest doors:
As backbone of our food's industry, pillars of your communities,
Society's stewards - most worthy - to have built for All, your best legacy!
Walter Prokopchuk
Bradford
