In January of 1983 Wallace registered his property as Buttermilk Creek Farm and began his career of raising fish and stocking small farm ponds. To ease his transition from a school teacher to an independent entrepreneur, he added a children’s fishing pond to his operation, and had many children catch their first fish here.
A few years into the trout business, he discovered that the demand for table trout surpassed the demand for pond stockers. At the same time he discovered three other people who were pioneering the trout business off the southern shore of Manitoulin Island. When these gentlemen pooled their operations and began cage raising trout, Wallace began purchasing table trout from them, which has remained the backbone of his business until today.
Wallace, a few years into his new life style, became a founding member of the Cobden Farmers’ Market. At the first market, he took a few trout swimming around in a barrel on the back of his truck, and let people catch their own lunch. Wallace continued with his live trout life until his retirement from that aspect of his business in 2009, but his fish business has continued and expanded greatly. Now he provides people with not only trout, but many other food products.
For many years Wallace developed a network of customers in the Ottawa Valley, providing them with not only trout, but a great assortment of seafood products, and other food products which customers could not find in their local food stores. As well, he began keeping bees, and making maple syrup, which have become part of his operation.
Over the years Wallace developed a series of routes to different communities in the Ottawa Valley, delivering to his patrons: fish, chicken and other products, often hard to find in local stores, depending on the community he was serving. He had sixteen routes, for many years, but in these later years, has reduced his driving to four routes per month. He has however, found much more business coming to his door, especially people who are looking for fresh fish, but also other food product, including honey and maple syrup. People who have provided him with an email address, can be notified whenever his is getting fresh fish, and they make arrangements to pick up at the door.
If you would like to get onto this list email Wallace at wieady@gmail.com or call 613-646-7664 or text 613-401-7664.