Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell invites members of the community to join her, and author Bonnie Sitter, to share stories, memories and reminiscences of the history of the Farmerettes in the Peterborough-Northumberland-Kawarthas region.

During the Second World War when farms were short of labourers, thousands of young women kept Ontario farms afloat and the people of Ontario fed while the young men were overseas fighting. The young women, known as “Farmerettes,” planted, hoed, hand-weeded and harvested fruit and vegetable crops for long hours. It was part of a provincial program to replace male labour in the agricultural sector. The Farmerettes came from all across the province, most with no previous farming experience.

Do you know a Farmerette? Buzz around the Farmerettes book and play has resulted in many Ontarians discovering that they have a Farmerette in the family, as a neighbour, or in their communities. Or maybe a local farming family hosted a “Farmerette?" We urge locals to ask family members, neighbours, local farmers and community members if they have any experience or memories about "Farmerettes" who worked for the Ontario Farm Service Force during World War II.

“We would love to hear the stories, see photos and memorabilia and connect with any surviving Farmerettes in the Peterborough/Kawarthas region,” Blackwell explains. “Join us on June 9th to share your experience or just to listen to others’ memories.”

The “Memories of the Farmerettes” community gathering will take place on Sunday, June 9 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Peterborough Museum & Archives at 300 Hunter St E., Peterborough, ON K9H 1H1. The Peterborough Museum & Archives is fully accessible and offers plenty of free parking. This event is free-of-charge. Seating is very limited so reserve your spot early to avoid disappointment. To reserve a seat call 4th Line Theatre’s Box Office at 705-932-4445 or email boxoffice@4thlinetheatre.on.ca.

This July at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook, 4th Line Theatre is proud to present the world premiere production of Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes* by Alison Lawrence, and directed by Autumn Smith. The play is based on the book “Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes” by Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter. The book is for sale and is now available to purchase at the 4th Line Theatre Box Office & Administrative Centre located at 9 Tupper Street, Millbrook. Read the book before you see the play!

Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes* is a funny and enlightening exploration of the largely unknown story of the teenage girls who stepped up and worked on farms across Canada to feed the troops, and indeed all Canadians, during WWII. These ‘Farmerettes,’ all in their 90s now, tell us that the summers they worked those farms were the best of their lives, even 70 or more years later.

DETAILS

Memories of the Farmerettes

Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

Peterborough Museum & Archives - 300 Hunter St E., Peterborough, ON K9H 1H1. The Peterborough Museum & Archives is fully accessible and offers plenty of free parking.

This event is free-of-charge. Seating is limited - reserve your spot early to avoid disappointment.

To reserve a seat call 4th Line Theatre’s Box Office at 705-932-4445 or email boxoffice@4thlinetheatre.on.ca

4th Line Theatre is committed to preserving and promoting our Canadian cultural heritage through the development and presentation of regionally-based, environmentally-staged historical drama.

To see the play, visit www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca.