FREE
MAY 2021
MAGAZINE Photo: Jenny Jelen
FEATURING
Klaus Holm
and his Mobile Wood Mill
Read more on Page 16
Supporting Local Farmers & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS MICHELLE PATEY JENNY JELEN Administrator at the Grey Highlands Author, Journalist and Horse Chamber of Commerce. 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
BRIAN GLASSEY Outdoor Writer and Host of Canada’s Cast & Blast Podcast
Fencing Animal Feed & Bedding Custom Woodworking Equine Sales & Training
Not Just the Hay Farm 4
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
y r t n u o C roads u o y e k a will t home 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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INSPIRATION THE UPHILL CHALLENGE Stay with me. There is a book in the Bible called, Philippians, and in there you will read where a follower of Jesus encourages others to develop the same habit that they have. You’re likely holding this article and screaming out, “PLEASE TELL ME THE HABIT I MUST KNOW! Okay, calm down, breathe, I will tell you. That habit is expressed when the writer says, “…one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind (what is chasing me, haunting me, regrets, wrong things I’ve done and the wrong things that have been done to me) and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. That habit is leaving baggage behind me and remembering what’s in front of me. An interesting word is used, straining. Question, have you ever walked, run, or biked uphill? It will strain your physical capabilities. Now, have you walked, run, or biked uphill while carrying baggage? It won’t just strain you it will stop you. You have to let go in order to go up. Your call is upward. The law of momentum says it’s a whole lot easier to go down than it is up. The problem is we have upward dreams but downward habits. Upward habits? Gratitude, trying again, serving others, showing up, keeping your word,
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doing more than what is asked of you, forgiving others. Downward habits? Making excuses, easily giving up, not asking what you want to do with your life, cancelling on people, not completing things, not following through, not giving extra effort, anger, and unforgiveness. It’s easier to have downward habits but strain for uphill. You likely are in an uphill season of life right now. So you’re going to have to strain and struggle to keep moving upwards! Don’t go down, go up! The reward in Jesus is worth it. What is ahead of you and above you is so much better than what is behind you. For every person who is feeling down but looking up, I want you to know that West Edge is here for you to encourage you. Reach out to us at info@westedge.org. Keep straining for what is ahead of you. Inch by inch. Our progress might be slower than we would like right now but we’re still going to move forward. Because that’s what upward people do! Take Away: What’s something you can do today that requires straining forward towards your upward call? Matthew Douglas Lead Pastor West Edge Church www.westedge.org
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
TABLE OF CONTENTS MAY 2021 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p8 Papa Country says nice things about his wife. He hopes she reads them. PLANTING SEEDS...p10 Louella Martin draws parallels between gardening and parenting. [re]CALL PROJECT PODCAST...p13 We can learn so much from our seniors. Check out this new podcast! COVER STORY...p16 Read how Klaus Holm is helping locals discover the magic of wood. GREY ROADS...p21 Jesse McCracken’s Markdale-inspired film makes its world premiere at Hot Docs. FAMILY HISTORY...p26 Their roots run deep in Flesherton. Read about the Bernard family’s history. CARTOON...p30 Jeff Wilson illustrates the current state of life in resilient Grey County. Published By
FIAT LUX MEDIA
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 every business in Grey Highlands. 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 GREY HIGHLANDS SPRING Project Podcast, where Robert “Museum Rob” Iantorno interviews local seniors who tell their stories of life in Grey Highlands. Thanks for joining us this month. I hope you enjoy this edition.
Photo: Jenny Jelen
- Papa Country
PAPA COUNTRY
Publisher, Hello Country Magazine
hellocountrymagazine@gmail.com Instagram: @hellocountrymagazine www.hellocountry.ca Hello and thank you for reading the May edition of Hello Country Magazine. It’s been a busy month here on the farm as we get accustomed to life in Grey Highlands. This is our second spring and when I’m not busy sunbathing and watching the boys swim in their kiddie pool, I’m either scraping the ice off my truck or re-growing my beard to keep warm while Mama Country and I bucket water to our horses while we wait for the hoses to thaw. Speaking of my wife, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish her a very happy Mother’s Day. Pandemic life isn’t always easy, especially when you’re married to me. Thank you, love, for holding down the fort.
PODCAST
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I’m excited to be featuring Klaus Holm on our cover this month. His is an interesting story of growth and change. He’s also a very nice fellow! Read Klaus’ story written by Jenny Jelen on page 16. If you’re into podcasts, please take a moment to subscribe to the Hello Country Podcast and also check out the first episode in a series of podcasts produced by the Municipality of Grey Highlands and the South Grey Museum, entitled the [re]CALL 8
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o d u o y p l e Let me h do best. u o y t a h w “I help small business owners focus on doing their work by taking the money management, bookkeeping and paperwork off of their hands so they can spend more time with their family.” - Jenn Thompson
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PLANTING SEEDS PARENTING the never-ending noise. And it all happens again and again and again. Would you do it? Would you garden if you knew everything that went into it when you first started?
LOUELLA MARTIN & Nadine the Cow
How does a seed become a plant – a flower? It is really nothing short of a miracle, mostly performed in the dark, where no one can see. Much of gardening is really an act of faith. We fling the seeds into the soil, cover them up tenderly, pray for rain and hover closely waiting and watching for the first shoots to pop through. Would you garden if you knew everything that went into it when you first started? The careful watching and wondering, the weeding, the hoeing, the watering, the harvesting. And you do it all again and again and again. Would you do it? How does a baby become a child – an adult? How really does it happen? Much of parenting is really an act of faith. We tend to our fragile little babies so carefully, rock them, feed them, cuddle them, watching and worrying over them. Yet in a sense, it is a lot like flinging seeds into the soil, praying over them, and hovering closely. For how long? Years? Would you choose to become a parent if you knew everything that went into it when you first started? The careful tending of helpless life, the sleepless nights, the messes, the crying, the toddler meltdowns, the shrill voices, 10
Oh, but have you ever tasted fresh peas, straight off the vines? Carrots with the dirt hastily brushed off? Sun-ripened tomatoes still warm? (OK ,well I don’t actually like tomatoes but fresh strawberries??!). Have you ever straightened your aching back after an hour of weeding and hoeing, picking and watering, and looked around yourself and thought, “This grew under my care. I planted, God grew, I’m harvesting this bounty.” Would you do it? Would you choose to become a parent if you knew everything that went into it when you first started? Oh, but have you ever had little hands wrapped around your neck, experienced the joy of first smiles, first steps, first words, small hands tucked into yours? Have you ever gone on a walk with a small child and really listened to them and have seen the world through their eyes? How does a baby become a child – an adult? How really does it happen? It is really nothing short of a miracle. We have a long way to go before our first child nears adulthood but we’ve only blinked a couple of times and she’s already almost five. Would you do it? I know my answer! 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
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TRACTOR TALK WITH TYSON RIER Spring has finally sprung and with the current discounts available at Huron Tractor, now is the time to get into a new riding mower. With great cash discounts, no payment, no interest options and great financing options, a new mower is now more affordable than ever. With many options to choose from, we are sure to have a mower for every yard. Our X300 series is the perfect step up for somebody wanting a solid mower without breaking the bank. With deck sizes from 42 to 54 inch, full digital fuel gauges, 4 wheel steering, and premium engines, this is a great machine. The X500 is the next step up in our lineup. With many of the same features as the X300’s, these offer larger engines and bigger tires, which helps with traction. Once we step into the X700 series, the sky is the limit. With available 4 wheel drive, 4 wheel steer, and either gas or diesel
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HuronTractor.com | The Right Choice *Offer valid from 02 March 2021 to 03 May 2021. For purchases on your Multi-Use Account. Offer is unconditionally interest free for the first 12 months. After the 12-month period, for eligible purchases of goods and services: 1) a minimum monthly payment of 2.5% of the original amount financed is required (see example below); and 2) finance/ credit charges will begin to accrue immediately on amount financed at 17.9% per annum. Minimum purchase and finance amount may be required. No down payment required. Monthly statement of account provided. Representative Amount Financed (“RAF”): $1,000, at 17.9% APR/ACR, monthly payment is $25.34 for 60 months, total obligation is $1,520.40, cost of borrowing based on RAF is $520.40. 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 1, 2020 is $9,149 (includes delivery, freight, set-up and a $50 documentation 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.
Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
11
HISTORY LOVING LOCAL FINDS This final painting was found, appropriately, near the shore of Lake Ontario in Niagara on the Lake. It was put out with the recycling for waste removal. It’s hanging in the laundry room, and I love the image, which reminds me of a road trip to Peggy’s Cove.
“Museum Rob” I love finding old stuff for free on the curb in the Springtime. I mount these paintings (oil on board) by removing them from their frames (which are almost always heavily damaged and bulky) and using frameless mirror clips and screws. This method is simple and cheap, and it allows the painting to speak for itself. This first painting is oil on board, and was found for $4 at a yard sale in Flesherton. The seller had put it out for sale for 4 years consecutively with no interest. I love it. It’s probably from the 1950s, and I enjoy the rocky, Tom Thompson-y vibe.
Robert Iantorno - “Museum Rob” Community and Heritage Curator Economic & Community Development Municipality of Grey Highlands (519) 924-2843
This next painting is deeply textured oil on board, found for free, curbside in Durham. I love the colours, texture and motion.
Your Local Auto Service Specialists
www.coltonsgarage.ca 57 Durham St, Flesherton 12
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
Check out Episode 1 wherever you listen to Podcasts or at
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w w w. g re y h i g h l a n d s . c a
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Artefacts don’t talk, but people do. The [re]CALL Project is meant to gather nuance and paradigm from the recollection of people who were born long ago. It is a series of recorded discussions with local Seniors in Grey Highlands. We can read the history books later. Let’s hear the stories from the source. Available where you listen to your favourite podcasts and on the Grey Highlands Cultural Channel. Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
13
WELLNESS IN MY OPINION Okay, so you have an opinion. What does that mean? It’s a particular way of thinking about a subject. Is that opinion set in stone? When I think about an “opinion”, it is almost something that we can either agree or disagree with. In my mind, it pre-frames a potential fight if it doesn’t match with the particular opinion that the other person holds. You might even approach it with the idea that “this is what I think, and you’ll have to show me all the different evidence to change my mind”. So what if you took that opinion and considered it just one perspective out of many. And no, I don’t mean just give the same thing a different label and just keep using it in the same way. Think about what a “perspective” means to you. If you think about art or photography, the perspective that you use in capturing a scene or picture can change everything. It changes how you look at a particular thing. The perspective doesn’t change the thing you’re looking at, though! The object, scene, place, or person is still the same, but the perspective changes how you perceive it. With physical objects and visual scenes, it’s easy to understand how your perspective affects how you perceive what you see. What about ideas? There can be so many varying opinions on things in the world and often we hold fast to how we think (or feel) about a certain idea or concept. What if we took a moment to consider that how we think or feel about things is just one perspective of many? Would that make it easier to understand a different perspective? Maybe it would make understanding that there are different perspectives easier as a starting point. My intention in writing this is not to enter into an inflammatory discussion about right and wrong. I’m not even trying to change your opinions about one thing or another. I’m just happy to explore different perspectives. So after saying that, let’s use the idea of science as an example. Science and things that science explains are often referred to as “factual”. This is a useful perspective to understand much of our world, and yet, it would be good to remember that the 14
scientific method is one where you set a hypothesis, what you expect to be true, and collect observations to see if they support or disprove your hypothesis. Even when the observations support the hypothesis, it only means that the hypothesis is the best current explanation for the observations at this present moment. Many hypotheses have been maintained for many years and have not been disproven so these tend to be accepted as fact. They are factual and true for pretty much all practical applications. The different perspectives on the idea of science can help us understand the perspective that science doesn’t explain everything, right now. There are things that cannot be explained by scientific examination, but that doesn’t mean certain things don’t exist or aren’t true. You may hold the scientific method as the gold standard for understanding, or you may hold a different opinion. The truth often lies somewhere in between. Just like two people looking at the same object from different angles, the perspective can be different, what you see can be different, but you can be looking at the same thing. When you take a moment to reframe opinions as perspectives, you may find it easier to understand how someone can have a different perspective than yours. This is helpful for disagreements with other people and also helpful with disagreements with yourself! If you ever feel stuck in your life and you think that there’s nothing that can be done to change your situation, ask yourself if this is fact, or are there other perspectives that you can explore that might help get you moving. Just understanding that there are other ways you can look at your problem can open you up to exploring these alternate perspectives. I would love to hear from you! Share with me your perspective on perspectives. I’ll send you my Mindset Mastery PDF as a thank you! jon@curateandupgrade.cahis.
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Jonathan Nhan Co-Founder Curate and Upgrade www.curateandupgrade.ca
SHOWCASE THE LAND YOU LOVE
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COVER STORY THE MAGIC OF WOOD -
Klaus Holm
CUSTOM SAWMILLING Markdale (519) 216-1614
Photo: Jenny Jelen Klaus Holm has always had a knack for turning ideas into real things. Not one to say no or shy away from a challenge, he has spent his lifetime building, creating, and inventing. Now, in an effort to retire, he’s left behind a thriving self-made business in corporate metal fabrication to spend more time at home. The trouble is, home is a 100-acre property in Grey Country, dense with forest, ponds and all things wild. Naturally, his fascination with making things got the best of him. And Custom Sawmilling was born. At Custom Sawmilling, Holm offers on-site and mobile milling services throughout Grey County, as well as home furnishings and decor. What he loves most is allowing people the opportunity to utilize lumber that is meaningful to them, like repurposing an old tree from their homestead and turning it into something beautiful they can appreciate. He doesn’t mind offering up ideas or even helping to bring visions to life, but he’s also happy to leave customers with raw materials and their imaginations. “I like to inspire people,” he said. Working with wood, Holm said, makes that easy. “I was excited about wood because it has a life and a personality,” he said. “It has its own feeling.” 16
On his farm, Holm has access to a variety of tree species. He said he’s been thoroughly enjoying learning about the different types of wood and how they behave when they’re milled, dried and transformed into lumber, art or whatever their next form is. In many instances, Holm gives trees that are otherwise lifeless a second chance. Every opportunity he can, Holm said he prefers milling trees that have fallen or died. “I’m not going to cut down a big, beautiful tree that’s been hanging around for hundreds of years,” he said. “A lot of trees fall down here. Porcupines eat more than I’ll ever use. They ruin them; they eat the bark, and then they die. There’s just rows of dead trees. I feel kind of bad.” Even working with the lifeless lumber, Holm said he likes to make sure every bit of the tree is put to use. “I want to use the whole tree, right down to the stump,” he said. Having his own mill, which can accommodate logs up to 17 feet in length and 36 inches in diameter, makes it quite realistic to make use of every part of a tree. From circular flats to lean lumber, Holm has honed his skills and mastered the art of making every piece of the tree into something beautiful, practical or useful.
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
By: Jenny Jelen The Magic of Wood All his life, Holm has been passionate about two things; building and business. Before he could get out of high school, Holm was part of the family operation. “I was always my own boss,” he said. Holm and his father worked together in business, operating Orangeville Art and Welding and eventually Dufferin Sheet Metal in Orangeville. Holm went on to run the company, designing and manufacturing police and forensic evidence storage units, used by RCMP and regional police stations across the province and beyond. When Dufferin Sheet Metal sold to Space Saver Corporation, Holm enjoyed a stint transitioning the company over and taking the safe storage product lineup to more markets. After decades of working with metal, Holm said there has been a learning curve to get comfortable working with wood. “I’m a metal guy,” he said. “A metal guy welds things. If you make it wrong, you just fix it with a weld. It doesn’t split, it doesn’t shrink. It doesn’t change. You weld it - it stays welded.” Wood doesn’t behave quite the same. “You can’t force anything,” he said. It may be a different entity, but the idea of creating something someone will love, is hardly unfamiliar.
“He never wanted to tell anybody about this property he had here,” Holm said. “He came up here fishing.... He rode his buggy up Hwy. 10, and never told anybody where he turned off. He kept it a secret.” Mulock kept a guard on hire to watch over the property for nearly a decade in an effort to scare off teenagers looking to cause trouble and to preserve the natural land. He also planted many of the trees that Holm now prizes. Many of them are upwards of a century old, Holm discovered when counting the rings on an old trunk. When Holm and his wife first saw the land, they understood just how special it was. “We saw the property,” he said. “We bought the property. It was what we wanted.” Now, neatly tucked away is their off-grid home, fuelled by solar energy. Holm said he looks forward to building a shop one day, but is enjoying running his mill and creating once again in the interim. You saw it here Holm is now available to provide custom milling services, both at his Markdale farm and throughout Grey County with his portable mill. There is no job too big and certainly no job too small. Hourly rates available. Get in touch with him at (519) 216-1614, and mention this story to waive the set-up fee for mobile services. Custom furniture and pre-made pieces are also available for purchase.
“Whenever you’re doing custom work, you have to ask (the client) what they want,” he said. “What do you need? What do you want?” The Farm Holm and his wife, Yvonne, are proud to call 100 acres of forest off West Back Line in Markdale home. The property once belonged to former Canadian Postmaster General and politician William Mulock. According to Holm, Mulock was proud of his slice of paradise. Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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HELLO COUNTRY KIDS DOWN TO BUSINESS It’s been a great month since my last article. Mommy homeschools me a little bit but for the most part, I continue to stay home from school and play all day. Some of my favourite activities are digging holes and lighting fires (with Daddy, of course). Daddy’s friend, Rob Fawcett, says I can come work for him soon. He laughed when he told me, so I think there’s a joke in there somewhere. Something to do with Rob owning a crematorium and working at a cemetery.
my brother as a sales rep. He’s cuter than me so I think he’ll do well. I’m hoping to get him in front of some customers pretty soon once all this lockdown stuff starts to lift. Who knows, maybe we can get P.J. Knickerbocher’s into the mag :)
I’m also in the process of re-designing an old shed on our property. I spend a lot of time in there, hammering nails into boards and shingling the floor. I know, it sounds weird, right? But Mommy and Daddy say it’s my shed so I can do what I want.
Until next month, I’m signing off wielding my hammer and shovel!? By: Big Brother Hey, Kids! Write to me at hellocountrykids@gmail.com
I’m also teaching my little brother the value of money. I earned my first commission on ad sales thanks to Rob from Jolley’s Dairy Bar & Video (see his ad below). I’m going to hire
Kids
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DOWN TO BUSINESS Find these words: SHOVEL FAWCETT MONEY SHED NAILS HAMMER SON
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We’re OPEN 9am-9pm, 364 days of the year! • For your last minute grocery needs • Competitive prices with local grocery chains • We scoop ice cream cones all year!
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COMMUNITY YOUNG CREATIVES AT HANLEY I had the opportunity to visit with the Youth at The Hanley Institute recently. We had a fun conversation about country life and what it’s like being a young person in Grey Highlands during a pandemic. We found some common ground in their photography project and I agreed to publish some of the photos that will be on display at The South Grey Museum in the coming months. Check out these impressive images. - Papa Country
- Johnny Grade 7
- Cohen Grade 8
- Kenna Grade 7
- Logan Grade 9
- Claira Grade 8 Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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FOOD & DRINK (& MORE) PANTRY ITEMS Hello, Markdale! Suzzi and Catherine here again to talk about our Great Grey County! We have some amazing products in our store from around the world to right here in Markdale! Local chefs, farms, apiaries and sprout-ologists! The area boasts a plethora of delicious and talented food connoisseurs. As the weather gets warmer, we will have super fresh fruit and veggies from some of Grey County’s finest, so stay tuned!
Here’s a look at some of the local food products we carry: Pineapple Sage Catering and Fine Foods from Eugenia are making from scratch, sausages, meatballs, chutneys and more. We carry some of their products in our freezer, including gluten-free options. Casero Kitchen Table is a restaurant in Owen Sound that focuses on Mexican food. We carry their brined and smoked brisket in our fridge and it is now shaved, topped with pickled onions and on our menu. Yum!! Vandeleur Organic Microgreens are a great addition to your meal. They can be added to salads and smoothies or tossed into a soup. Malcolm Marshall is adding some new greens to his shelves so stay tuned for them at Susan’s. Speaking of Microgreens, if you want
to add a new hobby to your covid list of things to learn, we have do-it-yourself Microgreens growing kits from The Coburn Farm in Berkeley. Those green onions in your salads were gifted from the Coburn’s and we can’t wait for all the lovely things they will be growing this season. Grey County is home to some of the best honey we have ever had and Klondike Honey is one of them. Gary and Cheryl-Ann supply us with some of their liquid gold. As you know, we LOVE coffee!! And if you haven’t tried our new espresso, you need to!
We can’t talk about coffee in Grey County without talking about Heart and Soul. Katie is so passionate about coffee. Good coffee is not only about the taste, but about how that coffee was harvested and how it got to your cup. Heart and Soul’s beans are organic and fair-trade and are harvested by families who make a liveable wage. Oh, and it’s roasted in Flesherton. Down in the Valley you’ll find Beaver Valley Maple Syrup. Totally local and totally delicious. Catherine loves it on-top of Chapman’s Chocolate Ice Cream!!! Come grab a latte and check out the local products we have to offer. SUSAN’S DELICATESSEN 15 Main Street West, Markdale www.susansmarkdale.com Instagram: @susans.deli (519) 270-1520
There is so much more in store! 20
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
CULTURE GREY ROADS - WORLD PREMIERE In many ways, Markdale is a character, not just the backdrop, in the film, Grey Roads, which is making its World Premiere at the Hot Docs Film Festival until May 10. I had the opportunity to watch a private screening of the film and interview its maker, Jesse McCracken. He grew up in Markdale and Grey Roads tells a story of redemption and hope; with Markdale at its centre. The film is shot in black and white which adds to the nostalgic feeling of days gone by in Grey County as told by Jesse’s father and maternal grandfather - two protagonists who had vastly different influences on Jesse. His mother also plays a role in the film, albeit not on camera. Her words shine through with honesty and candor over the phone. Partway through the film, one is led to believe that Markdale is a town in decline. Like many other small towns across Ontario, it’s left scarred by the shuttering of factories and a retail landscape with much to be desired. Jesse draws parallels to his own family and his relationships with both his father; a brash, hard-living
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biker, and his grandfather; a more softspoken, community-oriented man. “I want people who live in small towns to be proud of their stories,” Jesse explains. “I want them to think differently - more complexly and more openly.” As the film progresses, it takes a hopeful turn toward a town with a more promising future. In the end, I was left with a singular motivation - to tell anyone who’d listen to buy a ticket to watch Grey Roads. Watch Grey Roads until May 10. Buy your ticket and support a local filmmaker: www.boxoffice.hotdocs.ca
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NEW EPISODE FEATURING CAST & BLAST EXPERT, BRIAN GLASSEY
Listen Now: www.hellocountry.ca/podcast Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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JENNIFER THOMPSON ANYTHING BUT I’d like to start off by saying thank you to It’s May now and you’re still feeling resistance toward organizing your shoebox of invoices and tallying all of your expenses and revenue figures. You’re not the only one. Here’s a list of things people would rather do than prepare and file their own taxes on time:
JENNIFER THOMPSON
L & W Bookkeeping Professionals
1. Jump out of a plane 2. Dive with sharks 3. Speak in public 4. Wear concrete shoes 5. Run half-naked down Main Street in Markdale 6. Play with snakes 7. Go swimming in Lake Eugenia in February 8. Climb Old Bawldy backward and barefoot 9. Drive all day in Toronto traffic 10. Be trapped at home for over a year with young children and your spouse It’s getting down to the wire now. If you haven’t filed yet or are looking for help getting organized for your 2021 filing, I’m here for you. Thanks for supporting local!
L & W BOOKKEEPING PROFESSIONALS support@lwbookkeepingpro.com lwbookkeepingpro.com (519) 477-5652
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HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
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THE LIFE OF A GARLIC FARMER PART 4 Just plant it... Let’s face it, when it comes to planting a seed to grow into a beautiful flower or tasty vegetable it’s not that hard, but not all people have the gift. On top of selling lots of garlic to eat we also sell seed stock for people to grow. It’s the same garlic... just bigger. Every year I’m surprised that we seem to get the same question from buyers of “what is the trick to growing garlic?” It is to that point that I direct them to my husband and then walk away, but every now and then I stay and listen. It’s amazing to hear Paul speak about garlic with such passion. Paul is what I would call a true plantsman. That word is sometimes said to mean the same as a “botanist” or “horticulturist”, but that would imply a professional involvement, whereas “plantsman” reflects an attitude and obsession with plants. He has had years of experience and research understanding the secrets of the soil and knowing what needs to be done to grow the best flower or in our case the best garlic we can produce. In layman’s terms, wine from Niagara won’t taste the same as the same type of wine from France. Here in Grey County, we have clay loam soil with underlining limestone which creates our unique soil feature and there are lots of amazing farms that produce everything from corn to apples, but here at Boars Rock Farm we are certified organic, meaning we don’t follow conventional farming practices. Paul and I use yearly crop rotations and feed our soil with lots of organic fertilizers and soil amendments to maximize our chances of large, healthy growth and minimize the chances of pests and diseases. He will tell buyers the simple truth of when, where, and how to plant, nurture, harvest, and cure their garlic until I see their eyes glaze over and politely walk away. But usually most of them like being schooled and informed; it’s not like fresh garlic is sold with an instruction sheet with planting depths, row spacing and pictures of full/ half or shady sun symbols. Garlic is easy, but not easy. It’s hardy and resilient but also incredibly susceptible to pests and diseases that will destroy your soil for many years of ever growing anything again. 24
PAUL & LORRAINE IRWIN Owners, Boars Rock Farm & Pure Music Garlic Products www.puremusicgarlic.com
Weed, fertilize, and water, but not too much. Garlic is also a flower, so snap off that scape when it starts to curl so the energy will go back to the bulb and eat that, too. Remove all that aren’t doing well and enjoy them for what they are. Inspection, inspection, inspection! Harvest in August and plant on thanksgiving weekend before the first frost. All plants need loving care too! We hope you have the chance to enjoy the joys of growing your own food this season! 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
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
GREY COUNTY LIFE SPRING IN THE COUNTRY Ah, Spring in the country! As I am every year, I was excited to see the buds on the trees and the tiny new leaves turning the treeline a bit greener over the last few weeks. For me, I like exploring the woods in the Spring, especially. Each season makes the forest feel so different but there seems to be a special feeling this time of year. Nothing beats a hike through the forest followed by dinner on an open fire surrounded by nature. Leave the cell phone in the house! The only thing that makes it better is bringing a few friends along, but we all need to keep following the heath guidelines and before we know it, we can enjoy the company of all our friends and family again! Restrictions have been tricky and frustrating, but a lot of us living in the country can count ourselves fortunate just to be able to have space to move around. Spring always fills the air with a bit of
freshness and the promise of growth (even if we do get some final flakes of snow) and typically, a renewed Spring Real Estate market. This time of year, it is not unusual to see a bit more inventory on the market as people waited for the nicer weather to list, but the real estate market locally has a mind of its own right now. The continued pressure from buyers on a limited number of available properties makes the stories of multiple offers and over-asking prices common, and if you have been in the market in the last year, you learned this firsthand. As we head into June and the excitement of summer builds, remember to continue to be safe and support local business. REUBEN MCCALLUM Sales Representative, RE/MAX High Country Realty Inc., Brokerage facebook.com/reubenmccallumrealtor www.reubenmccallum.com (519) 477-0418 Not intended to solicit Buyers or Sellers currently under contract
FROM THE CHAMBER BUSINESS THRIVING Networking is key to growing your business, but it’s a word that strikes fear in the heart of many. Put myself out there, they say? No way! They’ll find me if they need me. This strategy may work, but you’re counting on people finding you before they find your competition. One of the best and easiest things you can do is develop an “elevator pitch” - a short (15 seconds to one minute) statement about your business that will both educate and excite the folks you’re talking to. You probably want to create a few for speaking with different types of people (potential customers, versus fellow business owners) and practice them until you can go from memory with little error.
there are tons of opportunities to put your elevator pitch into play. How about the grocery store lineup, a doctor’s office waiting room, or standing outside the school to pick up your kids? How about in lockdown times, you ask? Join one of the Chamber’s monthly networking sessions. The sessions are currently over Zoom, last less than an hour, and are a great, stress-free way to meet other businesspeople and make valuable connections. Reach out to the Office at greyhighlandschamber@gmail.com to join an upcoming networking session, or to see how the Chamber can help you grow your business.
The key is to say what you do and what benefit it is and share your personality. While we are not flush with elevators here in Grey County, in non-lockdown times Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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FAMILY HISTORY BERNARD’S QUALITY CARS The Bernard family moved to Flesherton in 1973 from Newcastle, Ontario. Their business, currently located on Highway 10 Sydenham Street just north of Grey Road 4, began with Terry running the gas station, Pat running the restaurant, and Archie selling cars. Business was good, prompting them to build a Quonset hut and add a sales trailer in 1975. In 1986, Terry took the business over from Archie. Pat stayed on to work with Terry until her retirement in 2000. Archie was ready for a change and left the business to help save High Country Chev Olds as their General Manager from 1986 to 1990. When he returned to the family business, he sold vehicles part-time until his passing in 1998 and that is when Terry’s wife, Mary Lynn, joined the team. As their business continued to grow, the Bernard family added additional service bays; two in 1988, two more in 1995, and three additional bays in 2018 bringing the total to eight. In 1995, they expanded their offerings to include Rust Check; and in 2008
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they partnered with NAPA AUTOPRO to bring exceptional quality parts and warranties to their clientele. The future of the family business lies with sisters, Stefanie and Jessica Bernard. Both of whom attended Georgian College and earned diplomas in Automotive Marketing. They both went on to further their studies at Norwood University in Midland, Michigan where they earned degrees in Automotive Management. While they have worked in the business for much of their lives, Jessica started working full-time for the business in 2006 and Stefanie in 2013. With their roots firmly planted in Grey Highlands, the Bernard’s Team looks forward to welcoming new clients to the family.
BERNARD’S QUALITY CARS 94 Sydenham Street, Flesherton www.bernardsqualitycars.com 519.924.2601
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
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THE ARTS FLESHERTON CALLING Sometimes the idea for the next thing emerges from a confluence of the activities in which one is already engaged. In my case, I was working with young people at the Hanley Institute to help them learn to write for the theatre. My objective was to encourage the group to write a one-act play that they would then be able to perform in the Hanley Centre, as I had done in a Hamilton high school a few years ago. In my experience, there really is nothing quite like watching actors speak your words from a stage for the first time, and I wanted them to know what that was. So, we have a group of students who want to know something about making theatre, a potential performance space in need of a little TLC, and a need for a boatload of equipment, and then my friend Stewart Halliday sends me an email about a government grant designed to help communities celebrate special anniversaries over 100 years. It struck me that a play about Agnes Macphail, whose 100th anniversary since being elected the first female MP to the House of Commons will occur on December 6, 2021, might be tailor-made for a grant. The grant in question required a minimum 100-year anniversary of a building, event, or person, a non- profit organization to anchor it, and a strong element of community support. Enough said. On the downside, I haven’t written a new play since 2008. The last one was made into a film, and I’m afraid I caught the movie bug during it. These days I devote my time to writing screenplays, but I did write fifteen or sixteen stage plays since 1980. I am a little vague about the number because there are a couple of early ones in there I would much rather forget. The best I can say is that they seemed like a good idea at the time. So, we’ve had the first meeting of the reborn Flesherton Drama Society 2021. Yes, reborn. If you don’t believe me, check out the picture-window photo of the 1912 version at Highland Grounds in Flesherton. If you don’t know where that is, it’s right next to the bookstore, which I’m sure you do. The initial project of the group will be the production of the play about Agnes Macphail on the 100th anniversary of her election to Parliament, which I am in the process of writing.
KEVIN ARTHUR LAND
Owner, Speaking Volumes Books and Audio 12 Toronto Road, Flesherton kevinarthurland@gmail.com www.kevinarthurland.ca
as her anti-war stance. She also lobbied for a free Canadian health care system comparable to Saskatchewan’s, founded the Elizabeth Fry Society, and led the legislation for equal pay. She was also known for her one-line zingers. Even more importantly, she is from here. If you’re passing through Ceylon on Highway #4, obscured by a house on the corner where it meets Jane Street, you will find the home Agnes used to meet with her constituents not far from her childhood home. The only evidence of its pedigree is a small plaque in front of it, a fitting tribute to a modest woman whose most important achievement was the dedication to the people she served. In the next couple of months, if you have any interesting Agnes stories or trivia, and are anywhere near the bookstore in Flesherton, and the “Open” sign is lit, drop in and pass it on. It just might make its way into a community stage production. Kevin Arthur Land is a playwright, screenwriter, arts educator, and the owner of Speaking Volumes Books and Audio in Flesherton. www.kevinarthurland.ca
Agnes Macphail offers numerous attractive qualities as a subject for a theatre piece. Besides being the first female MP, she was known for her advocacy for the rights of women, seniors, workers, and farmers, as well
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HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
Speaking Volumes Books and Audio 12 Toronto Rd. Flesherton, ON 905-719-8878 manager@speakingvolumesbooks.ca
@speakingvolumesflesherton
"The Arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life bearable."
-Kurt Vonnegut
Jr.
Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
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