GREY ROADS

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 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

CANADA

NEW EPISODE FEATURING CAST & BLAST EXPERT, BRIAN GLASSEY

Listen Now: www.hellocountry.ca/podcast

JENNIFER THOMPSON

L & W Bookkeeping Professionals

Mom deserves to feel special!

unique gifts gift baskets balloons full service flower shop 56 Main St. W., Markdale

Order early to be sure you get a great gift! Call 519.986.2721 or order online markdaleflorist.ca

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:

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

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.

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

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. 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

Spring always fills the air with a bit of

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.

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 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.