09/14/2026
In the mid-1800s, Irish immigrants, many fleeing the Irish Potato Famine, settled in the area and discovered something promising beneath their feet: fertile fields rich in the renowned Honeywood loam, ideal for growing potatoes.
Growing potatoes demanded patience, determination, and many helping hands. Farmers used simple tools and horse-drawn plows. Planting, weeding, and harvesting were done largely by hand, and when harvest season arrived, families, neighbours, and friends gathered to work side by side to ensure the harvest was complete before winter.
As time passed, innovation changed life on the farm. Horse-drawn scufflers and potato diggers eased some of the physical demands, while new farming methods improved efficiency. By the early 20th century, tractors and mechanized equipment transformed potato production, allowing farmers to cultivate larger acreages, improve yields, and meet the growing demands of an expanding industry.
Farming is never without challenges, but time and again, our farmers adapted. That resilience ensured that potatoes remained an important part of Mulmur’s heritage.
Today, the potato harvest continues as a proud tradition. Modern farms combine generations of knowledge with advanced equipment and innovative growing practices, but the heart of the harvest remains unchanged. The connection between the land, the crop, and the families who cultivate it is as strong as ever. As another potato harvest begins, we recognize and celebrate the dedication, perseverance, and hard work of Mulmur’s farming community, including several multi-generational potato farms that have helped shape this enduring story:
• Rutledge Potato Farms: Est. 1883
• Downey Farms: Est. 1924
• Tupling Farms: Est. 1944
Their legacy is a testament to the generations of farmers who have worked Mulmur’s soil and helped make potatoes an enduring part of our history.
Photos: 1. Best Potato Harvester, Ferris and Scott Family, 1940 (MoD -3241).
2. Farmette Helping Harvest Potatoes, WWII, Ferris Farm, 1942 (MoD -3433).
3. Horses and Potato Harvester, 1920 (MoD -3289 H)
Photo Credit: Museum of Dufferin
