
By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
After almost four decades operating Peart’s Strawberries, Tom and Diane Peart will be enjoying their first season of retirement this spring. As they reflect on their time in the strawberry business, they share their love of “playing in the dirt” and are grateful for the many friendships that also grew in the berry patch.
Diane has a love of gardening that was inspired by her mom who “always planted in good old Haldimand clay”. She also picked strawberries for Earl Hauser, so it’s no real surprise that, when she saw sand on the farm property of Tom’s grandmother, she thought they should grow strawberries too. Along with the sandy soil, proximity to the river provided a source of water making the location ideal. They started with 1,000 plants on less than a quarter of an acre 38 years ago with the first crop emerging the following year.