FREE
APRIL 2021
MAGAZINE
INTO SPRING SWING SWING INTO SPRING AT THE
AT
Markdale Golf & Country Club Read more on Page 16
Read their story and check out their 2021 Early Bird Membership Rates on page 16
Hole #7, Par 3
Supporting Local Farmers & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS AAKASH P. DASAI JENNY JELEN Markdale Resident and Deputy Mayor Author, Journalist and Horse of the Municipality of Grey Highlands Trainer / Coach with a Writing Habit JENNIFER THOMPSON Markdale Resident and Owner of L & W Bookkeeping Professionals
TYSON RIER Sales Representative for Huron Tractor in Chatsworth
JEFF WILSON Priceville Resident and Accomplished Cartoonist, Blogtoonist & Illustrator
LORRAINE IRWIN Rocklyn Resident and Owner of Pure Music Garlic Products
LOUELLA MARTIN KEVIN ARTHUR LAND Markdale resident and co-owner of Arts Educator and Owner of Speaking Azure Highlands Homestead Volumes Books & Audio in Flesherton JONATHAN NHAN MIKE WIXSON Pharmacist, Diabetes Coach, Hypnotist Producer of the Hello Country Podcast & Co-Founder of Curate and Upgrade & Owner of The Pod Plant HILIARY BREADNER REUBEN MCCALLUM Lifelong Rocklyn Resident and Owner Realtor and Grey Highlands Resident; of Hiliary Breadner Graphics Capturing Life in Grey County ROBERT IANTORNO Community and Heritage Curator, South Grey Museum in Flesherton
519.216.7287 agcojeff@gmail.com Mulmur, ON
ALEXIS BRENNER Grey County Resident and Co-Owner of DB Trailblazers
Fencing Animal Feed & Bedding Custom Woodworking Equine Sales & Training
Not Just the Hay Farm 4
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
s i g n Spri ! e r e h Spring is an ideal time to buy and sell in Grey County. I can help you start your journey into spring on a new path. If you have any questions, please let me know how I can help. from
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COMMUNITY PLANTING LOCAL GOV’NT SEEDS of the municipalities we live in. These decisions will dictate the priorities the next generation will have to address.
AAKASH P. DESAI
Deputy Mayor Municipality of Grey Highlands deputymayordesai@greyhighlands.ca Young people today are disengaged from politics at all levels. In the 2019 Federal Elections, the turnout amongst the young adults (18-35) was 56.6% compared to 74.6% among those 65 and over. Unfortunately, detailed statistics for youth participation in local politics do not exist for Grey Highlands. Anecdotally, in July 2019, Grey Highlands Council approved a Youth Action Committee to encourage youth engagement and provide an avenue for supporting a youth “voice” in the community. The committee was disbanded in December 2020 due to a lack of applications. So why do young people not engage in local politics? Have we failed our youth by not being accessible enough? Or have the young people failed local government by not participating? The answer is likely six of one and half a dozen of the other. Why should young people be interested in local politics? The simplest answer is because it is the level of government which has the greatest impact on your day-to-day life. Most roads you will use are maintained by local government. Waste disposal, water and sanitation, health services, education services, and even recreation services are all provided by an arm of local government. The discussions and debates happening at council tables today will shape the future
Why is it important for local government to be accessible to young people? As I have said before, we are making decisions today that will shape the world they live in tomorrow. As such, it is incumbent upon us to continue making concerted efforts to make local government more accessible to young people. As politicians, we can get caught up in representing those who vote, but it is important we reach out and involve those who are less likely to vote, as well. I am confident that if we are consistent in concerted efforts to get young people involved, we will have a higher voter turnout and a higher participation rate in our democracy. Most importantly, perhaps, we will have avoid condemning tomorrow’s generation to the decisions we make today. I like to think I am still young – I turn 31 at the end of this year – and so I want to encourage my peers to participate in local government. Regardless of how old you are, 10, 18, or 25 I hope you will ask questions, make statements, and voice your opinions. I was 24 when I was first elected, and I can tell you first-hand, everyone in local government is excited to hear from you. To those in local government, I hope you continue to act on your excitement to hear from young people and lend a serious ear to their opinions. If we can plant the seed today, they will be able to enjoy the shade of the tree tomorrow. Aakash P. Desai Deputy Mayor Municipality of Grey Highlands deputymayordesai@greyhighlands.ca (519) 477-0732
TABLE OF CONTENTS APRIL 2021 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p8 Papa Country breaths a sigh of relief as we welcome Spring to Grey Highlands! COMMUNITY...p10 Louella Martin writes eloquently about the metaphors of planting seeds. HISTORY...p14 Museum Rob draws a correlation between history and planting informational seeds. COVER STORY...p16 Jenny Jelen interviews Jeff Wilkinson and Eddie Aziz from the Markdale Golf & Curling Club. HELLO COUNTRY KIDS...p18 Big Brother writes about Garden Time and helping / not helping on the farm. OUTDOORS...p20 Alexis Brenner writes about the value of a trail to create your own outdoor sanctuary. CARTOON...p30 Priceville’s Jeff Wilson illustrates how resilience grows in Grey County. Published By
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HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE is the only free, monthly magazine of its kind focused on life in Grey Highlands. It’s delivered by Canada Post to homes and farms with Kimberley, Markdale, Flesherton, Heathcote, Maxwell, Singhampton & Priceville addresses. Copies are available for pick-up at selected local businesses in Grey County. We capture life in Grey Highlands by highlighting the many positive contributions to our community by local farmers, business owners, elected officials, and residents. Hello Country is proudly independent and published from a barn / pick-up truck / stable / home office just outside beautiful Flesherton, Ontario! From our family to yours, we thank you very much for reading! No part of this publication in any of its forms may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE HAPPY SPRING Let’s all exhale together. Ready? Hahhhhh....
Photo: Jenny Jelen
We did it! We made it to spring. Maybe that’s not such a big deal to you folks who’ve lived in Grey County a while, but for us newbies - it’s a REALLY BIG DEAL!
PAPA COUNTRY
Publisher, Hello Country Magazine
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As I write this at the tail end of March, there are still large patches of snow clinging to life on our farm. They’re aided in their resilience by the shadows cast upon them from the towering trees along our southern fence line. The rest of our property is now equal parts mud and manure. Ah, the smell of spring is in the air. It smells like victory. This being our second spring in Grey Highlands, we’re still very much city folk. We’re trying hard to assimilate to your ways, however. But these winters are new to us. When the clocks went forward recently, Mama Country and I felt a huge sense of relief and satisfaction. We made it. Now that spring is here, we’re turning our attention to planting seeds. Such is the theme for this edition of the magazine. It’s a good one, if I don’t say so myself, because it’s a great metaphor for new beginnings, new life, regeneration, and resurrection. Speaking of new beginnings, the Markdale Golf & Curling Club is opening again for the 2021 season. The Club has a rich history with a reputation for being inclusive and a great place for social interaction. Read about their story on page 16, and if you’re thinking of joining, the Club is offering some great Early Bird membership rates. On behalf of Mama Country and the Boys, I’d like to thank you for reading this edition and wish you and your family a very Happy Easter.
- Papa Country
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COMMUNITY PLANTING SEEDS We see the little shoots and we recognize the plants – tiny spiralled pea plants, long straight onion shoots and flower bulbs, curlleafed corn plants. Kneeling beside little shoots in the dirt and whispering to them does not make them grow faster but it does provide a sense of satisfaction, of having been involved in the process. How does a dream become reality – a lifestyle? We see the outward changes a person makes and we can hear them verbalize their dream. Kneeling beside them, in their joys and sorrows does help and it provides a real sense of satisfaction but just like that flower plant where some things are best left alone, there comes a time when each person must pursue their own dream and passion.
LOUELLA MARTIN & Nadine the Cow
I’m excited to have Louella Martin from Azure Highlands Homestead in Markdale contributing to Hello Country Magazine. My family lives down the road from her and her husband, Jesse, so when we ventured out to discover local farm stores, theirs was the first we tried. And we keep coming back! - Papa Country How does a seed become a plant – a flower? We see the lovely colour bursts of flowers but we don’t see the process – the cold dark earth, the slinging rains, the first courageous burst from the shell of home, and finally, the brave little shoot that pokes upward through the soil til it reaches blue sky and sunshine. How does a dream become reality – a lifestyle?
How does a seed become a flower – and it is really nothing short of a miracle, mostly performed in the dark, where no one can see. How does a dream become a reality – and it is really nothing short of a miracle, mostly performed in the dark, where no one can see. LOUELLA MARTIN Azure Highlands Family Homestead Markdale, ON azurehighlandshomestead@gmail.com Louella lives on a small regenerative farm with her husband and two children. Besides writing, she loves farming and raising high quality meat products from well raised animals. She can be found at their farm, probably outside somewhere. Find more information by going to their website, www.azurehighlandshomestead.com
We can see someone’s life but we don’t see the whisperings in the mind, the thoughts of the heart, the conversations, the first stepping outside of the shell of ‘home’. We don’t see the tears and sighs behind closed doors, nor the victory shouts, till finally the first little shoot pokes upward to sunshine and blue sky. How does a seed become a plant – a flower? 10
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
FOOD & DRINK (& MORE) WE
GC MAKERS
Hello, Grey County! Catherine and Suzzi here from Susan’s Deli writing to you about all the crafty people in our beautiful County. Before we opened, we knew we wanted to dedicate an area of our store to local makers. We know how hard it is to be a maker and find spaces to sell your stuff. This past year was especially hard due to little or no markets for crafters to sell their goods. We will continue to support our neighbours and their amazing talents and we hope you do, too! This is the year to support local more than ever before. Here are some of Grey County’s Finest:
Pippa from Eugenia makes the most gorgeous bowls and burdock leaf platters. The butter belle dish is a hot item here at Susan’s. It allows you to keep your butter out all year long without melting into a pool.
Kountry Kreations was Susan’s Deli’s very first collaboration/friend. Christina Wood is one of the hardest working womyn we have met in Grey County. I don’t know how she does it between her full-time job, being a mom and maker. Her handmade gifts are a hit here. We love her.
Amama is an all natural skin care line from Clarksburg. Her Healing Salve saved us this winter with the cold and the dish pan hands. Margaret has created a line that will help you from your head down to your toes.
Malika is an incredible leather lady. She is a master seamstress who balances her time in Toronto making costumes on film sets and in beautiful Berkley making leather goods. SUSAN’S DELICATESSEN 15 Main Street West, Markdale www.susansmarkdale.com Instagram: @susans.deli (519) 270-1520
The Lobo Co. might sound familiar to some of you. This is Suzzi’s other business. She makes earrings, lotions, soaps and herbal infusions.
There is so much more in store! Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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HISTORY INFORMATIONAL SEEDS
Artefacts aren’t much use to humanity if they stay wrapped up in a box or a showcase. Artefacts are bits of truth, seeds of information housed in matter. It is my opinion that a Museum is meant to animate said information and get it out into the public in a relevant way so that current and future generations can learn and hopefully benefit. In other words, to seed this information so that it can regenerate and grow. This is a session at Headwaters Academy, a school in the Beaver Valley. We are discussing old cameras and the ideas of “What does a camera do?” / “What are photographs?” / “Why do humans take and share photos?”
By actively engaging these young minds in dialogue, the informational “seeds” from a box of old cameras grew into discussions about surveillance, the compulsion to share, the danger of hive mind, and the very encapsulation of feelings and what that could look like in the future. Informational seeds are meant to be planted and nourished. Who knows what they might grow into. Robert Iantorno - “Museum Rob” Community and Heritage Curator Economic & Community Development Municipality of Grey Highlands (519) 924-2843
Photo: J. Prettie, 2020
PAUL MCQUEEN, MAYOR OF GREY HIGHLANDS JOINS US ON THE PODCAST!
Listen Now: www.hellocountry.ca/podcast
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WELLNESS MASTERING YOUR MINDSET Do you ever feel like you are stuck in the same spot, doing the same things, and feeling the same ways about things day in and day out? This perspective that you may hold is something that could be limiting your ability to change habits or lifestyle in the way that you want. I’m going to offer you a different angle to look at the same old problems. Put aside any objections and consider for a moment a different perspective. You can always pick up where you left off. So there’s a problem that’s got you stuck. Maybe you want to get more active. Maybe you’ve been thinking about eating better. Quitting smoking continues to stick on your to-do list? Maybe you’re just tired of feeling stressed and anxious about the world around you. You know exactly what you don’t want, and yet it’s hard to move away from it, isn’t it? There are times when I get down, and this has happened quite a bit more in the recent past. I can recall vividly the times when I feel down and less than optimal. I know that I have the tools and techniques to change how I’m feeling if I wanted to, but in those moments, it just seems easier to feel those feelings - and that’s okay! When I’m finally ready to move forward, one thing that helps is remembering that there are other perspectives and ways of looking at things. I love the idea that there are limitless possibilities in the world available to us at any time, but this idea may seem a bit airy and ephemeral to some so I’ll simplify this down and offer you 2 perspectives to choose from: 1) What you DON’T want and 2) What you DO want. Let’s start with what you don’t want. Focusing on what you do not want puts into focus exactly the things that you don’t want and keeps it there. The way our minds work is that to not think of something, we have to think about that thing first before we can tell ourselves to not think of it. Go ahead and don’t think of a pink elephant. Framing things in a negative perspective only makes it difficult to move away from these things we no longer want or need 14
JONATHAN NHAN
Co-Founder, Curate and Upgrade
because it puts it into our mind’s eye and focuses our attention on it. Knowing what you don’t want helps you if you can then focus on what you DO want. So, when thinking about that problem that you want to resolve, ask yourself “What do I want?”. Are the first few thoughts in your head still things that you don’t want? Put those aside. Frame your answers to be practical goals that you can move towards. What will moving past that problem look like? What would it feel like? Put the focus on what you want. Be honest with yourself and if what you want seems too big to reach in one step, break it down into smaller wants that move you towards your goal. Try that perspective on for size. I put together a short PDF on Mindset Mastery and if you’d like a copy, email me at jon@curateandupgrade.ca. I’d love to share it with you. We can change so much when we consider the control we have over our own mindset. Shifting our perspectives and looking through different frames is only one way of doing this.
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
Jonathan Nhan Co-Founder Curate and Upgrade www.curateandupgrade.ca
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COVER STORY A SOCIAL PLACE - MARKDALE Photo: Jenny Jelen
Jeff Wilkinson, Club President & Eddie Aziz, Member of the Board
THE MARKDALE GOLF & CURLING CLUB
85 Edith Avenue, Markdale www.markdalegolfandcurlingclub.ca (519) 986-2690
Just two blocks from Main Street Markdale, surrounded by new homes and real estate developments, is a little slice of paradise. Set on some of the prettiest views in Grey Highlands, golfers, curlers and the community as a whole are never far from enjoying the beauty of their own backyards. For nearly a century, when the original curling club began, to the transformation in the mid-60s to both golf and curling, the Markdale Country Club has been a place where community spirit meets friendly competition; where sport and recreation meet friends old and new, and where everyone was welcome, whether they were teeing off on the nine picturesque holes, throwing rocks on the ice or gathering in the hall for a community event. As the weather warms up, it’s impossible not to get excited about getting outside. For Jeff Wilkinson, president of what’s now operating as the Markdale Golf & Curling Club, and Eddie Aziz, a member of the Board, that means it’s time to start thinking of golf season. Weather and COVID permitting, the Club plans to open and welcome golfers on Friday, May 7, 2021. 16
“Since its inception, the Club has helped fill the need for recreational and cultural activities for many diverse demographic and socio-economical groups in Markdale and Grey County,” Wilkinson said. “In doing so, it has provided a great social, healthy, and inclusive environment for all to meet.” The golf course itself has come a long way since it opened. Originally, local farmers offered up their personal farm tractors to build the course, which was then mostly comprised of ‘orchard’ grass fairways. “We’re a volunteer club,” Wilkinson said. It always has been, and always will. Now volunteers aren’t necessarily congregating on the greens with tractors; they are running events, helping with administration, organizing leagues, and keeping the Club running. Their roles may have changed, but the sense of community and volunteer-driven initiatives have not. The technology they use, and the move towards a more polished course, certainly have, though. In recent years, the Club has prided itself on making the golf course better, including making improvements to the greens and
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
GOLF & CURLING CLUB fairways, adding new sand traps, investing in new machinery for maintaining the fairways, and purchasing carts to make the course more accessible for everyone who would like to play. “It’s not a tough course,” Aziz said. “It’s not a hard course. It’s very forgiving and an enjoyable golf course.” On top of being an inviting course, the people who frequent it are just as encouraging. “You just feel welcome here,” Aziz said. “It is a community. Everybody loves the place here because it’s conveniently located, the course is very nice now and we have a very good staff, and the price is very reasonable.” The fact that the Club has worked hard in the past to keep costs low helped with its inclusive image and will remain focused on keeping golf an affordable option for anyone in the community who wants to play. There are regular leagues for men, women, and seniors, as well as initiatives for young golfers at the Club. In regular (non-COVID) years, golf tournaments are also a big draw. This summer, the Club is also planning to expand its social services with its licensed patio, where the community as a whole is invited to come out and enjoy
VINTAGE PROMO CARD
See www.markdalegolfandcurlingclub.ca for current pricing and special 2021 early bird rates.
By: Jenny Jelen their very popular Friday wing nights and drinks in the lovely country setting. As the community continues to grow, Wilkinson envisions the Club “becoming a place to come even when not out for a golf round or curling event.” “It’s a social place,” he said. As times change, and the demographic that calls Markdale home evolves, the Club is keen to cater to the community and make its resources accessible to everyone. “There’s a lot of good in the future here,” Aziz said. Since it is community-run, the Club is also keen to give back to the very people who keep it alive and vibrant. Wilkinson said there are incentives for locals interested in renting the facility for community events, as well as community fundraisers. For those interested in joining as a member or playing on an occasional basis, there are affordable options for everyone. The Club is currently offering an early bird membership opportunity until April 30th, 2021. All information can be found on www.markdalegolfandcurlingclub.ca or by calling the Club at 519-986-2690. During the winter months, the Club turns its attention to Curling with regular leagues and bonspiels. No matter the season, there is something to do at the Markdale Country Club. Golf clubs, rocks, and gavels? From the 1960s all the way to the 1990s, the main hall at the Markdale Curling Club served a much less enjoyable purpose from time to time. It was a makeshift courtroom, according to Al Ritchie, former President of the Markdale Country Club, and a retired school principal, where locals could go to dispute minor infractions and traffic tickets. It meant area residents wouldn’t have to travel all the way to Owen Sound to appear before a judge for a violation like speeding. “It was more a convenience for the people in the area,” he said. “It was just another way the Club served the community.”
Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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HELLO COUNTRY KIDS GARDEN TIME Last year was our first spring in Flesherton. We had a garden back in Toronto but not as big as the one we have now. My family planted lots of seeds last year and we were so excited to eat our own vegetables. Mommy was excited for us all to eat healthier. Daddy was excited not to have to buy vegetables at the store. It didn’t exactly work out as they planned. Some of our vegetables grew, but most didn’t. We did grow a lot of weeds, though. Where did we go wrong? Every time we drove anywhere in the truck, Daddy would always point to the nice vegetable gardens and say, “See, they’re doing something right.” Or: “How come our garden doesn’t look like that?” Or, my favourite: “Man, they must be using magic seeds!” This year, we’re planning a new garden. Corn, beets, kale, peppers, tomatoes, and a whole lot more good stuff. I’m even going to help
Kids
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pull weeds (haha...yeah, right!). What are you planting?
By: Big Brother Hey, Kids! Write to me at hellocountrykids@gmail.com
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SPRING TIME Find these words: SPRING SEEDS ROOTS FLOWERS WATER AIR SOIL LEAF SUN STEM
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HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
COMMUNITY DOING GOOD, WHILE HAVING FUN
What is it to be a part of country living as young adults in Grey Highlands? Easy question, right? It’s easy enough to say just put on a twangy song and a plaid shirt. And it’s easy to know nearly everyone by their first name, then name a cousin of theirs, and say “we all grew up together”. It is also easy to nod at those familiar faces passing by or give the ole’ wrist-snap, half a hand, well-renowned farming “hey” with your palm on the steering wheel. That’s easy. It is just as easy to discover a favourite backroad that winds and twists amongst the trees, barely wide enough for even a single car. It is easy to recall moments of sitting on a tailgate in the middle of a field, under a wide-open sky, freckled in stars. It is easy to get lost in thought as you explore the vastness of trails through acres of bush, rivers cutting through hillsides, and the land that our people relentlessly and proudly work. And it is easy to sit around a fire, reminiscing of days past just as it was easy to inspire wild ideas and bring the Rotaract Highlander’s Club to life. This club is a group of mismatched young adults who have come together from across the area to complete one simple goal. Do good. They range in ages from 18 to 35 years old and, though personalities differ and they come from different backgrounds, can all agree that they love living here and embrace all that Grey Highlands has to offer. Aside from exploring the area and hangouts together, these are working young adults who want to share the kindness they were raised on and provide fundraising support to all
those in need. In the last year, the Rotaract Highlanders have shared some positivity in handing out carnations to strangers and they spent an evening drawing chalk art on the sidewalks of Markdale. They have provided donations to places such as the Flesherton Food Bank, Grey Highlands Secondary School’s parenting class, and the Safe ‘N Sound initiative in the fight against homelessness. They adapted to the times in hosting the Markdale Car Show on their Facebook account and are looking forward to the day when they can get back to the street surrounded by the community they support. Because of their creative means and ongoing initiatives, this Rotaract club was able to provide an over $23,000 cheque to the Chapman House Hospice after spending nineteen days throwing themselves on social media platforms in a pursuit to gain donations. This, of course, could not have been accomplished without the dedicated people of Grey and Bruce Counties. The Rotaract Highlander’s Club welcomes any young adult looking to be a part of the good. As this club grows, opportunities for new partnerships and contacts develop not only at home but also across the world. Through Rotaract, you are granted skills both professionally and in leadership, all while remaining true to yourself and to where you come from. Thank you for letting us represent you so easily and we hope to see you at the next fire. ROTARACT HIGHLANDERS highlandersrotaractclub@gmail.com
Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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OUTDOORS CREATING YOUR SANCTUARY So if access is what you need, how do you get from wild to walkable? And what kind of trail are you dreaming of? A well-built trail will offer enjoyment to land users for years with some regular upkeep. A poorly built or overused trail eventually requires a lot of additional maintenance to mitigate issues that weren’t planned for ahead of time. Wellbuilt trails with a purpose are also kinder to the environment in which they exist. Proper planning helps to self-select away from problem-causers before they arise.
ALEXIS BRENNER DB Trailblazers
A trail can be a wondrous thing. It can offer adventure or meditation, quiet solitude, or a perfect walk with friends. We are drawn into the forest and wild yonder. It calls to our hearts and fulfills our soul’s needs for nature connection and reset. Access is key. When people have access to get out into nature they are more likely to get active in protecting that space. For property owners, access is important for land management and enjoyment. But what about when no trail exists? Somewhere in the tangles of branches and bushes, a beautiful walk is waiting, it’s just hard to see the forest path through all of the trees. Although a good bushwhack can be a fun challenge, it isn’t as inviting as a trailhead welcoming us in for a look-see and can be daunting for a regular outing. A well-cut trail inspires your cooperation and draws you along. When the right trail is there on the right day, the experience can be amazing, even transformative.
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There are plenty of resources out there and online for the DIYer looking to plot new paths and cut some trail. Some specialty tools come in handy for the job along with a heck of a lot of sweat equity. For some people, the toil of cutting trail is part of the fun and for others, it is a barrier to getting out to enjoy their land the way they crave. Not everyone is physically up to, or interested in, the hours and days it can take to develop a truly awesome trail system. So what happens then? Well, luckily there are trail development companies whose focus is to create that space for you. With an arsenal of specialty tools and dedicated know-how, an experienced trail company can bring a quality built trail within reach. Whether you build for yourself or seek out expert help, a great trail can improve quality of life and inspire good stewardship. DB TRAILBLAZERS info@dbtrailblazers.ca www.dbtrailblazers.ca @dbtrailblazers 519.477.4474
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JENNIFER THOMPSON TAX TIME IS NOW! Is it organization? Procrastination? Fear? Could be all of the above. I know filing taxes during a pandemic isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a necessary evil. So let’s make it easy. I’ll work with you and get you to a place where you’re comfortable and confident. We’ll also get you organized so next year at this time, things will be a lot easier and your resistance to filing will be markedly reduced.
JENNIFER THOMPSON
L & W Bookkeeping Professionals
I’d like to start off by saying thank you to all the new customers who have contacted me after reading these articles in Hello Country. It’s great to be working with you. My business has grown much faster than I’d expected and I’m having to hire people to help me. Thank you for supporting your local Bookkeeper! Ok, now back to business.
Fun Fact: There was a time when filing taxes was fun. No, that’s not true. Filing taxes has never been fun (unless you’re like me). But filing doesn’t have to be painful. It’s April and that means tax time is now. Let’s talk and see how best I can help you. I’m just a phone call away.
L & W BOOKKEEPING PROFESSIONALS support@lwbookkeepingpro.com lwbookkeepingpro.com (519) 477-5652
So you’re just starting to get around to maybe possibly thinking about one day probably filing your 2020 taxes soon. I know, I know...it’s the last thing you want to think about especially now that the weather is getting nicer and you’re spending so much more time outside. I get it. Who wants to be rummaging through old shoeboxes filled with receipts when you could be out enjoying the sun? Well, the old adage certainly applies here. You know, the one about death and taxes. We all have to file, so why not meet the challenge head-on. After all, we live in Grey County. That’s what we do when things get tough, right? We don’t back down. We meet the challenge head-on. The challenge here is what, though? 22
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THE LIFE OF A GARLIC FARMER PART 3 It takes an army. Hello again. For the last two months, I have talked about going back to your ancestral roots and dealing with the new changes of the world as we know it, including all the volunteers who are still continuously working hard to reach out to everyone. But as for any farming or gardening practices, it can take an army to help your crops come to life. Most farmers in Grey County are large acreage cattle or crop farmers. They definitely have the farm help or machinery to help them throughout the year. But what happens when you have a different type of crop that needs a more hands-on aspect to have success, like garlic? When Paul and I first started growing our couple of heads to start accumulating our seed crop, it was hard work. Let me first say, it was hard work for Paul. As most know, the garlic is usually planted by hand and that requires a bendover-at-the-hip Neanderthal pose, or crawl on your hands and knees to get the cloves in the ground. We started in our personal vegetable garden with just 5 heads of garlic, and when you split those 5 heads up into cloves they usually produce about 6 to 8 cloves to plant or eat. So, 5 times 8 equals about 40 plants. That was okay for us until we got to the 2000 mark or so. It was fun and easy until our little vegetable garden lost valuable space. In 2014, Paul worked up our front roadside field. I hopped on a tractor with a rake and proceeded to go round and round in circles for months to work up the soil so we could plant by Thanksgiving weekend. We didn’t really start calculating the garlic in poundage size but still in head counts, and I believe it was over 10,000 cloves! That was also the year Paul broke his back and needed some help. So we volun-told our kids to help after school and fed and watered all of their friends to join in. It was the fall of continual weekend parties and they all kicked in without complaint. We were able to plant all of them up to 3-4 weeks depending on the weather. The next year, we still had friends and family from the community come to help crack and split all that garlic to keep us growing our crop. 24
PAUL & LORRAINE IRWIN Owners, Boars Rock Farm & Pure Music Garlic Products www.puremusicgarlic.com
I’ll never forget all of the hours (that turned into days) that they sat in our barn freezing their butts and fingers off just to help us out. Last year, Boars Rock Farm planted over 50,000 plants of certified organic hardneck garlic and has continuously grown our farm into an incredible business that we are so proud of. But it all comes back to remembering your family roots and the team to get you there. Thank you to everyone who has supported us for these last seven years. We’re excited to pay it forward for the future. Lorraine Irwin is a mother, a wife, a theatre buff and the owner of Pure Music Garlic Products. She makes all of her gourmet garlic products using Organic Garlic grown on their farm (Boars Rock Farm). Check out her ad on Page 7. PURE MUSIC GARLIC PRODUCTS puremusicgarlic@gmail.com puremusicgarlic.com @puremusicgarlic (519) 942-5410 BOARS ROCK FARM 136407 Grey Road 12, Grey Highlands boarsrockfarm.ca @boarsrockfarm
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TRACTOR TALK WITH TYSON RIER Spring is here! Now is the time to start thinking about upgrading your lawnmower. Look no further than our John Deere ZTrak zero turn mowers. With one for every size of property, we are sure to have the right option for you. Our Z300 series is the smallest of the zero turns. With a starting price of $3600 they fit many budgets for smaller lawns. Next, we get into our Z500 series. These are a little heavier and offer a few more features, such as premium seats and larger cutting decks. With a starting price of $5400, they have great value for the money. The Z700 series is truly a beast. One step under a full on commercial machine, they’re designed to cut a large area of grass quickly. With prices starting at $8600, they are worth a look if you cut large areas. Finally the Z900 series. These are the true beasts of the commercial mowing world and are meant for cutting very large areas. With a starting price of $11900, and decks up to 72 inches, you can mow a large area very quick. The main benefits to a zero turn are how
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HuronTractor.com | The Right Choice ¹Offer available 02 March 2021 through 03 May 2021. For purchases on your Multi-Use Account. For eligible purchases of goods and services: 1) a minimum monthly payment of $208.34 is required (see example below); and 2) finance/credit charges will begin to accrue immediately on amount financed at 0% per annum. Minimum purchase and finance amount may be required. No down payment required. Monthly statement of account provided. Representative Amount Financed (“RAF”): $10,000, at 0% APR/ACR, monthly payment is $208.34 for 48 months, total obligation is $10,000, cost of borrowing based on RAF is $0. Monthly payments and cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed and down payment. MSRP cash price based on highest priced product in series as of January 3, 2021 is $13,635 (includes delivery, freight and set-up fee), plus taxes. Representative amount does not guarantee offer applies. In the event you default on this or any Multi-Use Account transaction, interest on all outstanding balances (including all Special Promotion Transactions) will begin to accrue immediately at 19.75% per annum from the date of default until paid in full, and you will be required to make monthly payments on this transaction equal to 2.5% of the original amounts financed plus interest. Dealers are free to set individual prices. Additional dealer fees may apply. Financing on approved John Deere Financial credit only and dealer participation. See dealer for details. Limited time offer which may not be combined with other offers. Discounts or other incentives may be available for cash purchases. By selecting the purchase financing offer, consumers may be foregoing such discounts and incentives which may result in a higher effective interest rate.
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THE ARTS FLESHERTON CALLING Robert Burcher I have long been interested in the origins of artistic works. Whether it be a dream (“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”), stories around a campfire (“Frankenstein”), a Muse (Klimt’s “Adele Bloch-Bauer”), an overwhelming gambling debt (Dostoevsky’s “The Gambler”), the pressures of life (Edward Munch’s “The Scream”), or simply garden-variety outrage over a massacre orchestrated by the government (Neil Young’s “Ohio”), catalysts can give a profound insight into the works themselves. For Robert Burcher’s latest book “My Summer of Glorious Freedom”, the catalyst began in 1991 when he discovered a plaque dedicated to John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club and creator of the National Park movement in the U.S., hidden deep at the back of a forest in the Epping Lookout Conservation Area. It was the first time he learned that Muir spent from 1864-1866 in Canada and travelled through southwest Ontario from Meaford to Niagara Falls. After arranging for the plaque to be cleaned and restored and then moved to a more prominent spot, he began to investigate Muir’s activities during his time in Canada. What Burcher was able to learn was that Muir, a lifelong naturalist, collected some 236 specimens of flora during his travels during that period. The writer decided to recreate, as closely as he could, Muir’s journey on foot which began after he arrived in Bradford, Ontario from Wisconsin in 1864. This involved going south to the Hamilton area and then to the Niagara Peninsula, and then back north to Meaford. Robert was able to collect many of the same specimens in the same areas as Muir did, but his efforts were somewhat hampered by the fact that many of Muir’s specimens, as well as the diaries he kept during the period, were destroyed by fire. These efforts to shine a light on Muir’s unknown Canadian sojourn during the latter part of the Civil War brought other benefits to Burcher. Besides being responsible for ensuring that the Muir plaque would be placed where all could see it, he was invited to join “The Canadian Friends of John Muir”, created by Scott Cameron, of nearby Thornbury. It also created ripples down south, where John Muir is revered. There were many Muir enthusiasts who had no idea that there was a Canadian component to the naturalist’s life.
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KEVIN ARTHUR LAND
Owner, Speaking Volumes Books and Audio 12 Toronto Street, Flesherton kevinarthurland@gmail.com
Robert Burcher’s own journey began in Hamilton, where his father was a worker at Stelco, but his family would move to many communities in Ontario once his father achieved his dream of being a teacher. The closest the young Robert would feel to having a home was his time in Brampton, where they lived when his father was an assistant professor of science at York University. The love of nature was never very far from his thoughts--- his grandfather was founder of the Hamilton Naturalist’s Club. And then there was that book his father gave him about the Sierra Club, which must have come in handy all those years later. Even Robert’s chosen jobs, whether as a bartender, a ski instructor, or a photographer, nurtured the skills he would need later as a writer. At present, Burcher is trying to locate a different Valhalla. It takes the form of the area in Newfoundland where Leif Ericson first landed, one which he termed “Vinland”, because of the delicious grapes he was able to find there. This project started when Robert was researching his first book, “The Leather Boat” (2012), with the sight of Viking graffiti etched in rock along a shoreline, praising a deity for safe passage. Would that all our words are so immortalized. A signed copy of “My Summer of Glorious Freedom” is available for purchase at Speaking Volumes Books in Flesherton. Kevin Arthur Land is a playwright, screenwriter, arts educator, and the owner of Speaking Volumes Books and Audio in Flesherton. www.kevinarthurland.ca
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Speaking Volumes Books and Audio 12 Toronto Rd. Flesherton, ON 905-719-8878 manager@speakingvolumesbooks.ca
@speakingvolumesflesherton
“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.”
-Kurt Vonnegut
Jr.
Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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