FREE
JULY 2021
MAGAZINE
FEATURING
Donna Mann
Champion of the “Lady from Grey”
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 LIZ MARTINO-DURBANO REUBEN MCCALLUM Teacher, Certified Fitness Instructor & Realtor and Grey Highlands Resident; Wellness Guide Capturing Life in Grey County ROBERT IANTORNO Curious fellow, Resident of Singhampton
519.216.7287 agcojeff@gmail.com Mulmur, ON
AAKASH P. DESAI Markdale Resident and Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Grey Highlands
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Not Just the Hay Farm 4
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
e g a t t o It ’s C Time Looking to buy or sell a cottage or lake house in Grey County? I can help. from
Reuben McCallum Sales Representative
High Country Reality Inc., Brokerage and the rest of the
www.reubenmccallum.com
519.477.0418
Not intended to solicit Buyers or Sellers currently under contract.
GREY COUNTY LIFE LOCAL PRIDE
Well, it seems things are slowly starting to open again (at least at time of writing!) and let’s hope this is sustained. The government decided that the services I provide as a Realtor were essential and, as a result, we have been fortunate enough to be able to continue working through the pandemic when so many other people were not. It was no typical day at the office and it didn’t come without its own set of stressors, but I do consider myself fortunate. As I have mentioned in previous editorials, the market remained hot all through the pandemic. We had a lot of calls from the GTA, people looking to find space and recreation. We are a reasonable drive to the city and honestly, can you blame anyone for wanting to move here? This worked out well for you as a seller pricewise, but it also meant more people who were coming from areas with higher numbers of COVID-19 cases or “covid hotspots” travelling to the area. As an industry, Realtors took action to protect our clients, ourselves and our families. You likely noticed a shift to more virtual showings, improved online presence, virtual open houses and other inventive ideas to market your home. For those times where in-person showings, inspections and meetings were 6
necessary, Realtors adopted enhanced screening protocols (my car will forever smell like hand sanitizer), and limited inperson contact through technology at the office. As we navigated COVID-19 as a community, I was inspired by our resiliency; neighbours watching out for neighbours, people supporting local, community groups and businesses adapting and innovating. That is what makes living in Grey County special. Sure, the natural wonders bring people to the area, but it’s the sense of community that makes them stay. I am very proud to be able to call this area home, and I am really looking forward to getting back out in the community! 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
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
TABLE OF CONTENTS JULY 2021 GREY COUNTY LIFE...p6
Reuben McCallum kicks off this edition with more reasons to love Grey County!
PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p8
Papa Country reveals his real name (and phone number!). Dun-dun-duuuun..
BACK TO BUSINESS...p10
Michelle Patey from the Grey Highlands Chamber of Commerce is excited to get Back To Business!
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, and Priceville addresses, as well as every business in Grey Highlands. Copies are also available for pick-up at selected local businesses.
COVER STORY... p16
We capture life in Grey Highlands by highlighting the many positive contributions to our community by local farmers, business owners, elected officials, and residents.
TRAVEL ...p20
Hello Country is proudly independent and published from a barn / pick-up truck / stable / home office in beautiful Flesherton, Ontario!
We’re pleased to feature Donna Mann on this month’s cover. Thank you to Flesherton’s Barry Penhale and Jane Gibson for a wonderful article! Mike Wixson, Producer of the Hello Country Podcast, takes us on a journey to the Mattawa River Resort.
FLESHERTON CALLING... p28
Symphony in a Barn? Yep. Read Kevin Land’s profile on Kevin Mallon; West Grey resident, conductor & musical director...and pig farmer.
From our family to yours, we thank you very much for reading!
CARTOON...p30
No part of this publication in any of its forms may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.
Jeff Wilson wonders what Back To Business will look like as we tip-toe into a new normal. Published By
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE BACK TO BUSINESS SPECIAL OFFERS GET 10% OFF your next purchase at BOLTON AUTO in Ceylon when you present their ad on Page 31.
Photo: Jenny Jelen
mind with their customers. If you’re looking to promote your business within Grey Highlands, please call me. I’ve decided to run a Back To Business promotion that I think will help folks get the word out locally without breaking the bank.
PAPA COUNTRY
Publisher, Hello Country Magazine hellocountrymagazine@gmail.com Instagram: @hellocountrymagazine www.hellocountry.ca Welcome to our July edition.
Thank you very much for reading Hello Country. It means a lot to me to hear so many of you who love the magazine and who go so far as to stop me on the street or in a shop to tell me how much you enjoy the publication. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. Even from the lady who told me I need a haircut badly. She was right! Thank you for your readership,
Roger “Papa Country” Tumminieri
Is it me, or is time flying by? It seems like just yesterday that I wrote my first Publisher’s Note for Hello Country. And here we are.
(416) 788-0716
It’s been a long shutdown, but I’m happy to report that all my interactions recently with local business owners and farmers in Grey Highlands have been extremely positive. There’s hope in the air and I’m so pleased to see so many smiles beaming through the masks that, I hope, will one day soon become a thing of the past - relics of a time we’d all be happy to forget.
www.hellocountry.ca
It’s time to get Back To Business!
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With that said, local businesses and farm stores are going to need our help. Whether you’re reading this at your cottage, at home, or on the farm, please consider what you can do to help support our local business owners and farmers on a long-term basis, because this isn’t going to be an overnight fix. I’ve had a lot of people reach out to me who want to advertise because they know they need to get the word out and stay top-of8
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BACK TO BUSINESS DO YOU FEEL IT? that failed to work, might work now. Revisit those ideas. Two, manage expectations. Let your current customers know your hours of operation, how you’re operating now, and what your plans are. Change the signs on your front door, if need be.
Do you feel it? I feel it. We’ve made it over another COVID hurdle and come closer to some sort of a new normal. Each day, we move closer to enabling our businesses to operate the way they’d like, doing what they do the way they want to do it – how it’s best for them and for their customers. In our small towns and rural crossroads, more outdoor signs are popping up, directing you to places you might not have discovered before. Businesspeople who, months (years?) ago, were thrust onto social media to try to reach their customers and prospects are finding it’s actually a great revenue stream and worthy of attention. Restaurants are “right-sizing” their menus and removing items that either few customers want, take too long to make, or don’t fit with their new way of doing business, and often adding in some new menu items. Everyone’s posting Help Wanted signs and getting staffed up. So, is your business getting back to business? Here are five quick tips for doing it right.
Three, network. Whether you join a Chamber networking session, join a group of folks who meet regularly for coffee, or walk around and visit your neighbours, get your name out there. And make sure you carry a stack of your business cards everywhere you go. Four, take an online course or seminar. There are tons offered on Facebook and through local business organizations throughout Grey-Bruce, and many of them are free. Whether you’re learning something new, or refreshing existing skills, your brain will thank you for the expansion and activity and reward you with improved creativity and fresh new ideas. Five, recognize that other businesses might be doing the same things, and you need your presence to rise above the others. I don’t mean scream – I mean choose your media, refine your message, and, if you’re not a designer, hire one to help ensure your message appeals to the people you’re trying to reach and represents you well. Set a new, strong foundation that will see you beyond COVID and through to the other side. The Grey Highlands Chamber of Commerce is full of ideas and opportunities to help you get back to business – the best way for you. Reach out to greyhighlandschamber@gmail.com for more thoughts. MICHELLE PATEY GREY HIGHLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 13 Toronto St S, Markdale www.greyhighlandschamber.com 519-986-4612
One, remember that that was then, and this is now. The old “rules” don’t necessarily apply. Something you tried in the past 10
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
TRACTOR TALK WITH TYSON RIER Welcome to the world of the John Deere 3E series tractors, Available in 25, 32, and 38 horsepower, the 3E series packs a ton of power into a nice-sized machine. While it’s larger than the 1 or 2 series, the price doesn’t always reflect that. The 3E keeps many of the features important to tractor buyers, like hydrostatic transmission, rear 3-point hitch, and PTO, but gives up some features such as a midPTO and the quick park loader. This economy-priced tractor is built tough to handle many jobs around your property. Backed by the 2-year basic warranty and 6-year powertrain warranty, you can rest easy. With great cash deals and 0% financing options, we have a plan that works for any budget. Don’t wait, come see everything the 3E series tractor has to offer.
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*Offer available 02 February 2021 through 03 August 2021. 0% purchase financing for 60 months on new John Deere Compact Tractors. Down payment may be required. Representative Amount Financed (“RAF”): $30,000, at 0% APR/ACR, monthly payment is $500 for 60 months, total obligation is $30,000, credit charges/cost of borrowing based on RAF is $28. Monthly payments/ cost of borrowing/credit charges will vary depending on amount borrowed/down payment. MSRP cash price based on highest priced product in the series as of January 1, 2020: $51,398 (includes estimated delivery, freight, set-up and a $50 documentation fee), plus taxes. Minimum finance amount may be required; representative amount does not guarantee offer applies. The charge for amounts past due is 24% per annum. Dealers free to set individual prices. Additional dealer fees may apply. Financing on approved John Deere Financial credit only and dealer participation. Contact your dealer for details. 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. 1) Offer available 02 February 2021 through 03 August 2021 Get $1925 off the agreed upon purchase price of a new John Deere 3E Series Compact Utility Tractor. † Attachments and implements sold separately. Some conditions apply. Contact your participating dealer for details. Offer subject to availability and may be discontinued or modified. Taxes, setup, delivery, freight and preparation charges not included.. 2) Offer available 04 May 2021 through 03 August 2021 Get $1000 off the agreed upon purchase price of a new John Deere Compact Utility Vehicle when two or more qualifying John Deere or Frontier implements with a list price value of $450 each are purchased at the same time. Offer may be combined with purchase financing offers. Attachments and implements sold separately. Some conditions apply. Contact your participating dealer for details. Offer subject to availability and may be discontinued or modified. Taxes, setup, delivery and freight charges not included. Attachments and implements sold separately. Some conditions apply. Contact your participating dealer for details. Offer subject to availability and may be discontinued or modified. Taxes, setup, delivery and freight charges not included.
Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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COMMUNITY NEWS & UPDATES In this month’s episode of The [re]CALL Project., we speak to Bonnie who spent a lot of time in Badjeros. I first met Bonnie at the Markdale Seniors’ monthly lunch, where she and her peers straight out refused to stop bringing me soup and sandwiches. Bonnie’s advice: “Well, if you sit on the sidelines, then that’s where you’re gonna sit!”. In other words, live your life, don’t just be an observer. Bonnie is the picture of grace and strength - and her pumpkin soup is outstanding.
Robert Iantorno
In Case You Missed It:
Flesherton’s Talisa Haskins discusses Mental Health Awareness in our June edition To review last month’s issue or any previous issue, please visit: www.hellocountry.ca
Grey’s Ag Adventure July 17th, 2021 to August 28th, 2021 For more information about the adventure or to print off your passport visit Grey County Junior Farmers on Facebook. 12
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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WELLNESS ARE YOU PRESENT? We are steadily moving towards a resolution or endpoint for this pandemic, and it is probably true that this has gone on for longer than many of us ever could have imagined. With all the changes in the world, this shared experience has been a catalyst for self-reflection for many people. It may have also brought to the surface many past hurts or future worries. I’d like to share one thing that has helped me put some perspective on this present experience, and that is the idea of being present. What does it mean to be present? Let us start with the idea of the present moment in time, as a reference point. The present moment is “now” and that now is always changing. A constant movement of one moment to the next. Being present is the awareness and reception of the full experience of the present moment. Processing the now as it is happening. If you’re not in the present, then where can you be? The other options you have are the past or the future.
harm and often neglect to show appreciation or gratitude. The great thing is that we can learn to do this just simply through practice. Take a moment and notice the present moment. You might even choose to appreciate that you’ve noticed this moment. The more you practice, the easier you’ll find it. Take control! I’d love to hear your thoughts! Email: jon@ curateandupgrade.ca. I’ll send you a link to the Mindset Mastery Basics PDF!
Jonathan Nhan Co-Founder, Curate and Upgrade
VIDEO TIPS FROM LIZ
Have you ever had a conversation where the person you were speaking to seemed like they were somewhere else? Maybe lost in a daydream? Or reliving a past hurt? Ask yourself, how often are you experiencing your experience in this present moment? Are you here now? Or are you physically in the present, but mentally thinking (or worrying!) about something else? The only “real” experience that you can have is in the present. What you feel about a past or future thought are real experiences too, but these experiences are purely generated from within. We can’t revisit the past, or travel to the future, but can often find ourselves off in a distant time while life passes us by now. Realizing what these past and future experiences are generated might seem disorienting at first, but it may give you comfort upon further reflection, as this means that you are the one in control. Our biology acts in funny ways sometimes - in ways that seem counterintuitive or not useful on the whole. We learn from our experiences to help guide us forward, but sometimes we might miss the lesson and install a habit that is not useful. One of the biggest things that leads to holding onto disempowering beliefs, is one of the most limiting beliefs you can hold, which is “this is just the way that I am”. If that belief resonates with you, examine it and ask yourself if it is really set in stone. What if you said, “this is the way I am right now, but I am open to growth, expansion, and change”. It’s funny how much our thoughts guide our experience. Some of these thoughts and experiences that come from the past or future pull us out of the present. We are wired to put more emphasis on things that might cause us
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Watch at www.hellocountry.ca “Slow and steady wins the race.” A very common saying that can be applied to so many areas of our life! Like with gardening, each day we water our plants for a short while and give them some TLC in hopes that the foundation to their growth is supported well. It is the same with the way we take care of ourselves. As you take small, tiny actions each day by moving, even if only briefly, you will begin to notice the benefits of a fuller, healthier life. A common misconception to being active is that we “should” be working out at an intense level each day, but sometimes, this method is unsustainable. Set realistic goals for yourself and get moving, slow and steady! Just like the plants show growth over time, your results will be achieved over time, even if in a slow and steady pace. Liz Martino-Durbano, M.Ed. Teacher, Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor & Wellness Guide
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COVER STORY DONNA MANN: AGNES MACPHAIL’S
DONNA MANN The many admirers of Grey County’s political icon, Agnes Campbell Macphail, range from longtime fans to those who have only recently discovered this great Canadian. We can all expect to learn considerably more about Macphail in this the 100th anniversary year since her groundbreaking election as Canada’s first female MP. This article, featuring Reverend Donna Mann, reveals the achievements of one woman’s dedicated campaign to memorialize “The Lady from Grey.” Donna Mann has accomplished so much that her own story deserves to be better known. Just who is she and why has she devoted so much time and energy to ensure the ongoing legacy of Agnes Campbell Macphail? As starters, there are numerous similarities between both women and their rural backgrounds. Like her hero, Mann proudly claims rural roots, having been born in the front bedroom of a thirdgeneration Wellington County farmhouse. At age seven an already creative Donna had begun writing stories. To this day she recalls those mischievous pre-school years when she would hide her older brother’s readers so she could read them after he left for school. Her voracious appetite for reading only increased once she began school. Regardless of the weather she walked the 1.25-mile distance to S.S. #4 Pilkington, the same one-room school her father, Charles Goodwin had attended until the realities of farming won out. Memories of her dad provide an image of a man of the soil, and we learn that like so many farmers of his era, his passion for politics knew no bounds. In spite of limited formal education, he would serve as reeve of Pilkington Township for twenty years.
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Piecing together the story of Agnes Macphail was to become an ongoing challenge for Donna Mann. She acknowledges that before Agnes’s story entered her life, she was wellschooled in the need to value women’s roles in society. Her mother, Gladys Goodwin, had taught her the importance of being supportive of women — their passions, abilities, and stories. It was during those youthful times that Donna also remembers: “being attached to a variety of older farmwomen at the end of long lanes who were surviving incredibly difficult lives with many children, absentee husbands, and meagre finances.” Additional recollections are of growing up in a time when many unemployed, homeless men were riding the rails —a time when her mother always had at hand a cup of coffee, homemade bread, and hardboiled eggs for those lone strangers navigating farm laneways on foot. Such past reflections stayed with Mann, as another reminder of the discipline and rural values that then were the norm, attributes shared by both Macphail’s parents and her own. As I see it, the world of Donna Mann has, to a great degree, been shaped by not one but two callings. One brought her to the pulpit and a life of ministry within the United Church now exceeding 40 years. The other was created by a fortuitous event that led her to Agnes by way of a church pew, at a time when she had limited knowledge of this first Canadian female MP. That limitation was to change forever when Mann on a rare day off elected to attend a service at Conn United Church. During the children’s time, Reverend Doyle Prier spoke of how some people are gifted for particular tasks, his example being a Grey County farmgirl by the name of Agnes Campbell Macphail! We will never know just what the children took away from church that day, but in Mann’s own words: “I left church that morning with a mission and the words that kept coming to me were — there has to be more. What’s the rest of the story?” Two more events occurring within a span of six months added impetus to her newly embraced challenge of elevating Macphail to her rightful place historically. One afforded an opportunity to bring Agnes to the attention of more school-age children. It would not likely have happened had Reverend Mann not dropped into the Mount Forest Library in mid-March, 2005. Students with their teacher present were just underway with a project related to famous Canadians. She quickly discerned that not a single youngster had any inkling of the incredible breakthrough for women achieved
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
CHAMPION
By: Barry Penhale, Friends of the South Grey Museum
Stone Cairn on County Rd 9 by a woman from nearby Grey County. That was to change on the spot! Mann began encouraging them to discover an honestto-goodness local hero. The second event occurred in June of the same year. An email message arrived from a friend: “Don’t forget to vote for Agnes!” A magazine competition to choose Ontario’s Greatest Woman was underway. She responded immediately. Unfazed by the many prominent contenders supported by others, she firmly believed it was Agnes’s time. I don’t know if prayer played a part, (I haven’t asked Reverend Mann), but on July 1, 2005, Agnes Macphail was proclaimed the winner. It would call for more than one article to chronicle the many ways in which Donna Mann has effectively championed the “Lady from Grey.” This brief review can only remind us of a limited portion of what she has achieved, including amassing a sizeable collection of Macphail memorabilia. This collection, put together over many cups of coffee and rail fences, is destined to have a home in the South Grey Museum in the near future. There is much more, including her role as the project manager for the creation of a five-foot cairn on County Road 9, just west of Hopeville, not too far from the original Macphail homestead in Proton Township, now part of Southgate. The building of the cairn, supported by the Municipality of Southgate, features local
fieldstone placed there to represent rural life in Grey County. A huge enthusiastic crowd attended the dedication ceremony to honour Grey County’s political legend on June 24, 2006. The auspicious occasion provided lasting memories and a tangible memorial. Ensuing correspondence with other Macphail admirers plus the outpouring of major media attention created recognition worthy of a film star. Mann was also the effective orchestrator behind plaques and highway signs honouring the “Lady from Grey.” As she recalls, Grey County was very receptive to the idea of “Agnes Macphail Country.” A sign designer was contracted to work with her, and the two women would meet in Aggies Café (now the Bicycle Café) in Flesherton to work out the details. Mann’s presentations, writings, and school visits have similarly had enormous impact on our general awareness of Macphail. From among her body of work in praise of Agnes, it may well be that the “Agnes” books she has written for Young Adult readers, Aggie’s Storms, Aggie’s Dream, and Aggie’s Voice may, in the end, be viewed as the most significant part of her legacy. It seems somehow fitting to close by acknowledging the contributions made by these two women, Agnes Campbell Macphail (1890–1954) and the Reverend Donna Mann. The one made history in her time and the other continues to ensure that such history is not forgotten. Photos supplied by Donna Mann
• Aggie’s Storms 2007 • Aggie’s Dream 2010 • Aggie’s Voice 2013 All published by Brucedale Press Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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HELLO COUNTRY KIDS IT’S OFFICIAL Hey there, Grey Highlands! Got some good news for ya. I’m finally living my dream. That’s right...I’m officially a YouTuber! Oh, yeah!!! Well, not a super-popular YouTuber yet. But that’s where you come in. With your thumb and forefinger, you can build my confidence and help me feel validated in life by clicking the Subscribe button on my Hello Country Kids YouTube channel. Oh, and while you’re there, please hit the Like button.
Thanks to my brother, The Little Guy, for being such a cute sidekick and to Mommy for her awesome editing skills. I’d also like to give a shout-out to Pam from P.J. Knickerbockers in Markdale for sponsoring our videos. Her shop is awesome; and if you’re a kid it’s even awesomer. Is that a word? Maybe I need to go back to school in September. Check us out at www.hellocountry.ca :) New videos coming soon... By: Big Brother Subscribe to our new YouTube channel Hello Country Kids
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TRAVEL FEATURE: MATTAWA RIVER RESORT When I heard the news that the most recent lockdown in Ontario to combat COVID-19 was lifted - at least partially - I hit the road. Destination: Mattawa. Why? Where the heck is Mattawa...I mean it sounds familiar. On the recommendation of a friend, I decided to head to Ontario Near North to get a change of scenery and to document the experience in podcast form to share with other people who want to escape the COVID-19 malaise. I was connected with Nicole, the owner of a Resort on Mattawa River at a point where it widens into a calm, bucolic area of water known as Lake Champlain, named after the famous voyager and discoverer of this majestic land. In fact, this river has been a pivotal highway for the discovery of Canada with almost every major historic figure who traversed our country made their way along this beautiful river route. Cartier, Champlain, Fraser... and the list goes on. Nicole and her husband Adrian, and actually their entire family have been restoring and renovating this stunning resort, now called Mattawa River Resort; an incredible series of cabins and a remarkable restaurant called The Cardinal all nestled into a brilliant, untouched, wooded waterfront that has been drawing Anglers, Snowmobilers, Kayakers and vacationing families the whole time garnering amazing reviews. Nicole was kind enough to co-host a series of podcasts that mainly talked about getting back to nature, getting in touch with ourselves, getting back to society and how connecting with this incredible place would make all of these a much easier journey. Her pride in making people feel
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relaxed and welcome shone through with every interaction. Adrian was always ready to accommodate a boat ride, tubing, or even just a stroll up the river to a brilliant waterfall that glides down the edge of the Laurentians with the coldest spring water I have ever felt. Mattawa is the hidden gem up against the
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A RUSTIC WATERFRONT HIDEAWAY
MATTAWA RIVER RESORT 6251 Hwy 17, Mattawa, ON www.mattawariverresort.com @mattawariverresort 705.744.5020
foothills of the Laurentians, only 2 hours north of Muskoka, which continues to develop into a bustling, heavily populated region, and 3 and a half hours from Toronto. The drive itself was breathtaking. In just seven days, I kayaked into a natural echo chamber that was a spiritual experience, discovered smooth waters to float down soaking in the sun and scenery, sat next to the campfire while a local band strummed rock hits on acoustic guitars, and I I fished. We connected with indigenous lore and found new respect for wildlife. I sat and listened to wolves’ howls echoing down the river like they have forever. I saw other humans... actual people swimming and laughing. I saw smiles every single day. I had an adventure that I would recommend to you as well.
Mattawa: Thank you. Nicole and everyone at Mattawa River Resort: Thank you. I am human after all. MICHEAL WIXSON Owner of The Pod Plant Podcast Studio www.thepodplant.com
Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
21
FOOD & DRINK (& MORE)
What’s the story behind
, you ask?
Let me tell you... I was inspired by the notion of a community, in this case an entire County, being forced to shut down its lifeblood - the local business community. As hard as the series of shutdowns, re-openings, and more shutdowns has been for residents and business owners, I felt that we all needed a bit of positivity, encouragement, and, well... LOVE. Hence, the creation of
.
Through my Apparel Company (www. apparelco.ca) - a side-gig I started in the thick of the pandemic - I launched a series of T-shirts and Masks featuring the brand. I approached Sousie and Catherine, owners of Susan’s Deli in Markdale, with the idea and they were happy to sell them through their store, alongside the Grey 22
County Apparel Co. and Beaver Valley Apparel Co. hoodies. I’m grateful to Sousie and Catherine for their ongoing support and wanted to take this opportunity to thank them in as much of a public forum as I can think of: this magazine. My intention in launching the brand was to connect it to the concept of community in support of local businesses. I hope you’ll consider showing your Love for Grey County the next time you pay a visit to Markdale. Thank you!
- Papa Country
SUSAN’S DELICATESSEN 15 Main Street West, Markdale www.susansmarkdale.com Instagram: @susans.deli (519) 270-1520
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BILL
WALKER
MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound
519-371-2421 ▪ 1-800-461-2664 100 - 920 1st Avenue West Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K5 bill.walkerco@pc.ola.org www.billwalkermpp.com
SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR
GREY COUNTY
THE LIFE OF A GARLIC FARMER PART 6 It’s great to see you! I believe I stand with a lot of people when I say I’m happy that Ontario finally allowed non-essential stores to open. The next day I walked through a Walmart parking lot and watched an elderly man walk out with a brand new pair of running shoes cradled in his arms. I smiled as I saw the happy look on his face, but then I looked down on his feet and his old running shoes were just barely held together. I remember where Paul and I were exactly the day we learned the Coronavirus had first arrived in Canada well over a year ago, and that was at the Guelph Organic Conference and Trade Show. It was our second time being a vendor and we were having a great weekend defining our place in business. Shoppers were excited to see we were back to get their favourite products and fresh garlic. We were meeting great contacts that could help us in the years to come, and feeding off the energy that made you feel good with 1000’s of people around you. We were also planning my first big trade show for exclusively women in business. In March, 2020, it all came to a stand still. It was a bit upsetting with uncertainty in the air and questions needing to be answered. It wasn’t just a small 100 acre farm wondering how we were going to sell our garlic but every business across Canada wondering how they were going to continue with their small enterprise. Times were tough; not so much with the big box stores, but the Ma and Pa stores that supplied all things local. Our farm depends on local businesses who carry our products, and that definitely slowed down. But sometimes good things come from the bad and you have to push your way through. Since we weren’t able to attend a gigantic trade show where we sold lots of garlic, Paul and I joined a farmers market instead. My online store started getting orders almost daily, and we were invited to virtual trade shows where everyone could see and talk to their favourite grower and producer. We started seeing everyone having interest in cooking, gardening, canning their own 24
PAUL & LORRAINE IRWIN Owners, Boars Rock Farm & Pure Music Garlic Products www.puremusicgarlic.com
food, and just getting back to their family. Before COVID, at a garlic festival it was almost like a carney atmosphere with the smell of good food, the same vendors and fast pace. But, I miss the crowds, I miss the energy and seeing the vendors. They were like close friends and family and I miss them. Paul and I are extremely grateful that farmers markets are essential and I can get off the farm; and are extremely grateful that everyone (with crowd control) still loves coming out and supporting us. I also love to see the same smile on many faces just like the one on the elderly man at Walmart. 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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FARM LIFE MOTHER NATURE One of the greatest gifts and compliments my friends can give to me as a parent is when they actually like my children and genuinely love to be around them. We are blessed to have two grandmas who are absolutely crazy about our girls. Both of them have their own way of showing it. One will often bring little trinkets or special foods she found while out shopping. She’ll bring them to me with a kinda sheepish grin on her face and say, “I found these and thought the girls might like them.” I take great joy in the great joy she takes in bringing joy to them! The other grandma is not a shopper and would much rather spend time reading books to them, cuddling them to sleep, having them over for a day or two. I take great joy in watching the way she takes care of the girls! Both of these moms are such gifts in our lives and I love the way they can bless our girls, uniquely, in their own way. Not having grown up being really close to either of my grandmas, it has been incredibly healing to watch my girls have these bonds. But what absolutely takes it to the next level and what makes me want to shout ‘God bless Grandmas!’ is when one of them babysits my girls for a day, just because! Today, I am having a child-free day. It’s amazing. First, I spend a couple of minutes burning circles and bouncing ideas around. “I could sew all day!” (My secret second language.) “I don’t have to cook at all today!” (My notso-secret least favourite household chore). Then, I make a list and my soul thrills as I knock one thing after the next off it. Sometimes that even includes reading and sewing for a while (and most definitely no extra cooking). Often I will spend the majority of a day like this doing marketing-type things that require my full attention but are hard to 26
LOUELLA MARTIN
Farmer Azure Highlands Family Homestead www.azurehighlandshomestead.com complete when the girls are around. Or I’ll write a lot. Which I love doing.
Mid-afternoon, things start to grind to a halt and I hold these two opposing factions within: I miss the girls; it’s easier to get lots done when they aren’t here. Sometimes for a little bit, I think about how life would be without our kiddos. In the end, it becomes a catch-your-tail kind of situation. I do have kiddos. They’re in my life right now. They’re mine to love and serve and take care of for the time being. They are God’s gifts to me and I treasure the time I have with them - the inside jokes we all understand, the smiles and hugs, the way they fill my days with light and laughter. But I still say: “God bless Grandmas!!” 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
HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE
JENNIFER THOMPSON SWITCHING GEARS cruise around on our side-by-side! Our boys love it and it affords us the opportunity to spend quality time together. My husband, Ian, is an excavator, so he’s very good at identifying holes in the trail and avoiding them (for the most part). We love to adventure and Grey County has no shortage of places to do just that. If you’re interested in some tips for fun family activities, I’d be happy to help point you in the right direction. And now, back to business...
JENNIFER THOMPSON
L & W Bookkeeping Professionals
Tax season is done. Or, at least it should be. If you’re still stressing and have yet to file, read this article and call me when you’re done. I can help get you on the right path.
Metaphorically speaking, we all have holes in the road (or bumps - excavators love to pile dirt) that we need to navigate. Often this comes in the form of tax debt, late-payment fees, or cashflow concerns. If you’re driving down that road, we should talk. It’s my job to help guide you so next year at this time, you’ll be enjoying a much smoother journey. L & W BOOKKEEPING PROFESSIONALS support@lwbookkeepingpro.com lwbookkeepingpro.com (519) 477-5652
Speaking of paths, I’d like to switch gears here and talk a bit about enjoying Grey County life with my family. Speaking about paths and gears, one of the things we love to do as a family is
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Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
27
THE ARTS FLESHERTON CALLING If you had told Kevin Mallon a few years ago that he was going to move to West Grey to become a pig farmer, he would likely have questioned your grip on reality. On the surface, it just might seem to be outside the scope of normal activity for a conductor and music director. Especially one who has performed with numerous orchestras from his native Ireland to Canada and the U.S., in addition to France, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Spain. But that is exactly what he has done. It all began when he was engaged to guest conduct at a Saturday concert at the annual “Symphony in the Barn” in Priceville in 2019. He took a break from his Toronto job as Artistic Director of the Arcadia Ensemble. The experience was a highly positive one for him. There was something about performing in a barn, surrounded by the elements in a natural setting that spoke to him. The whole “agri-culture” aspect of the event, where works from the classical repertoire are performed by local, Canadian, and international musicians in a farm milieu was unlike anything he had ever seen. It gave him a connection to the earth he didn’t know he was missing. “Everybody’s lost their grounding to the earth,” he says. “When I return to Toronto, it becomes clear to me.” Clearly, founder Michael Schmidt was impressed as well, because Kevin was asked back for the 2020 season, which was intended to be a celebration of the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic had other plans and the 25th season was cancelled. With the lockdown in place, Kevin realized he could fulfill his artistic director responsibility in Toronto virtually, and he could still conduct in Toronto, Ottawa, and internationally as previously contracted. As a result, Kevin decided to stay. And as anyone can tell you, if you live on a farm, you will be put to work. This is where the pig farming comes into play. Although Kevin had never had any first-hand experience in farm life, the work had a profound affect on him. The daily chores - feeding the pigs, doing the barn work, cleaning up - “grounds you. It’s very direct.” For him, it provides good physical 28
KEVIN ARTHUR LAND
Owner, Speaking Volumes Books and Audio 12 Toronto Road, Flesherton kevinarthurland@gmail.com www.kevinarthurland.ca
exertion amid the comfort of knowing that the animals are dependent on him. What’s more, Kevin is convinced that his artistic work has benefited from the experience. “Conducting is something that is hard to explain to people. Artists generally try to channel some force of good through themselves, but it’s easy to lose the meaning in the process. In this setting, you feel more connected, because you are in a real place.” He is also very pleasantly surprised with the level of sophistication in the audience here. This year the programme for the “Symphony in the Barn” includes the five Beethoven piano concertos from the cancelled season, performed by international as well as Canadian musicians. It also includes a world premiere of a new composition by Kevin Mallon himself, one which “came out of a year of reflection on the farm.” Based on the success of the concert which was live-streamed last year, there will be three live-stream concerts this year. Be advised that, after the shutdown, there will be a demand for cultural events as life slowly returns to normal. To reserve your ticket for any concert in the 26th season, go to: www.symphonyinthebarn.com.
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Speaking Volumes Books and Audio "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." Oscar Wilde
12 Toronto Rd. Flesherton, ON 905-719-8878 manager@speakingvolumesbooks.ca
@speakingvolumesflesherton Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands
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