Ripley and District Horticultural Society experiences life in a vineyard
The Ripley and District Horticultural Society’s Wednesday meeting featured a first-person account of viticulture – the practice of growing grapes for the purpose of making wine - by member Susan Miszturak.
Susan Miszturak presents “Life in a Vineyard” at the October meeting of the Ripley and District Horticultural Society; photos by Christine Roberts
She and her husband spent 23 years in the Niagara region growing grapes and making wine before retiring home to Ripley in 2024. From humble beginnings on a small acreage, they lived and worked through the challenges of home and workshop renovations and all the usual farm-related trials of weather, weeds, pests and labour.
Miszturak organized her presentation seasonally and described in detail the tasks particular to each, from pruning in spring through to harvest in the fall, wine-making and winter preparations. Photos and graphics accompanied her wry, and often amusing, accounts.
Her final slide summed it up nicely asking the question, “What’s it like?” and answering with “Blood, sweat and tears. And fun.”
The final slide succinctly sums up the Miszturaks’ 23-year experience
The audience thoroughly enjoyed the presentation although a few were disappointed not to have samples to taste.
Ripley Horticultural Society secretary Dianne Simpson (left) thanks Susan Miszturak for her very interesting and engaging presentation, Wednesday
The business items of the meeting included a report from the “For Our Youth” junior horticulture club by leader Bonnie Ernest on their final meeting of the season, held Oct. 18. The group was set to learn how to put its garden plot at the Bruce Botanical Food Gardens, to bed for the winter and enjoy mini-pizzas made in the mud oven. They would also be celebrating and bidding farewell to leader Melody Smillie who is retiring from the group.
A recap of the Ripley-Huron Fall Fair applauded the first-place finish of the society’s parade float and the good reception of the public to the display inside the exhibit hall.
President Wayne Koch gave an update on the project to donate several trees to the community. At present, the likely site will be the soccer fields on Park Street. Research on tree species and local suppliers will continue over the winter months with planting projected to take place in the spring.
An update was also given on the society’s application to the Ripley Reunion giving-back-to-the-community funding, and a donation to the Ripley Lions Christmas Hamper fund was approved.
In the break between the guest presentation and the business meeting, members enjoyed stocking up on donated goodies, such as baking, meat pies and preserves. Some members also picked up new plants and bulbs to add to their gardens. The annual sale once again was a very successful fund-raiser.
The next meeting will be held Nov. 19, at 1:30 p.m., in the social room at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre. This will be a make-and-take session and the final mini-flower show of the season.
The final meeting of the year will be held Dec. 5, with a catered lunch and Christmas celebration following the Annual General Meeting.
Written ByChristine Roberts is a retired elementary school teacher, president of Huron Bruce Nature, member of the Ripley and District Horticultural Society, volunteer for the David Suzuki Foundation, VON volunteer fitness leader and a passionate lover of nature.
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