In the summer of 1948 we purchased the Airdrie Dairy from “Jack” Hawkey for $1400 cash and got 6.9 acres of pasture land, 7 cows, pails, strainers, a cream separator, bottles and people waiting for the milk the next morning.
We followed this business for nine years and during that time with the help of the children, erected a large barn on the acreage for the cows and later for chickens.
I had purchased two hives of bees before the war and had taken care of the ten, which they had multiplied to, when he went away. We kept increasing them until we went out of the chicken and egg business and into the honey business.
We were producers, processors, packers and marketers for many tons of honey in the next ten years. Our containers were from 7 ounce to 8 pounds of honey to the stores and 2 bakeries got a pail each, weekly, 60 pounds to each pail.
Last year, although retired for three years, we purchased, processed and sold 1500 pounds to people who asked us to get it for them. We have quit now.