Hello Country Magazine - October 2021 Edition

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OCTOBER 2021 ANNUAL FOOD & DRINK EDITION

MAGAZINE

FEATURING

Carrie Tremble & Dave Sadowski

Markdale Residents and Co-Owners of

THE BURGER GURU

get it before it’s gone!

Read more on Page 16

Supporting Local Farmers & Businesses In Grey Highlands

www.hellocountry.ca

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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 TALISA HASKINS ALEX RUFF Member of Parliament for the Riding of Flesherton Resident & Registered Psychotherapist Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound ROBERT IANTORNO Curious fellow, Resident of Singhampton

JASON TODOROFF Barrister & Solicitor; and Resident of Holland Centre

ERIC ROBERTSON ALEXIS BRENNER Lifelong Resident of Grey Highlands & Grey County Resident & Co-Owner Broker at Grey County Real Estate Inc. of DB Trailblazers

519.216.7287 agcojeff@gmail.com Mulmur, ON

Fencing Animal Feed & Bedding Custom Woodworking Equine Sales & Training

Not Just the Hay Farm 4

HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER 2021 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p8

Papa Country gives us the skinny on Hello Country’s Annual Food & Drink Edition!

TRACTOR TALK...p11

It’s harvest time and what better way to celebrate than by pre-ordering a new John Deere machine from Huron Tractor in Chatsworth?! They also make great Christmas gifts.

WELLNESS...p13

Talisa Haskins talks about gratitude and easy ways to turn a frown upside down.

COVER STORY... p16

Papa Country puts his food writing to the test with this month’s cover feature on The Burger Guru.

LOCAL EVENTS ...p18

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.

We capture life in Grey Highlands by highlighting the many positive contributions to our community by local farmers, business owners, elected officials, and residents.

PRICEVILLE EATS ...p20

Hello Country is proudly independent and published from a barn / pick-up truck / stable / home office in beautiful Flesherton, Ontario!

FIELD TO TABLE... p26

From our family to yours, we thank you very much for reading!

A wrap-up of September’s Local Events in Grey Highlands.

Meet Mama Char - aka Charlene Rogers, owner of The Priceville General Store & Bakery!

Papa Country goes on his first Pheasant hunt and captures the action for Canada’s Cast & Blast Podcast.

No part of this publication in any of its forms may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.

Published By

Gourmet

All Rights Reserved

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE FOOD & DRINK EDITION

Photo: Jenny Jelen

feeds the masses! This month’s Cover Story features The Burger Guru; the little food trailer that made a big splash this summer at the Flesherton Commons parking lot.

Congratulations to Dave and Carrie for expanding our foodie options (and our palates)!

PAPA COUNTRY

Publisher, Hello Country Magazine hellocountrymagazine@gmail.com Instagram: @hellocountrymagazine www.hellocountry.ca

No word of a lie, I’ve put on a good 25 pounds and my feet have grown by 2 boot sizes (not a shoe size anymore) since we moved to the Country. I attribute most of this to buying Mama Country a commercial-grade Kitchen Aid Mixer as a housewarming gift, but the truth of the matter is, I’ve just been enjoying all the great food offerings here in Grey Highlands.

With that, I welcome you to our Annual Food & Drink edition. In which, you will find a feature on Charlene Rogers; owner of Mama Char’s General Store & Bakery in Priceville as well as Serendipity in Walkerton. She used to sell cars, now she

Thank you to all of our new Ad Partners.

Hello Country is really growing. I encourage you to support all of our Advertisers - they make Grey Highlands worth living in and visiting.

And a special thanks to all of the Readers who came up to me at the 9th Line Kite Festival in Markdale and the RAM Rodeo in Feversham recently to tell me how much they appreciate this publication. I told my wife about you and I think she loves me a little bit more now :) Looking for something awesome to do on October 16? Pop by Savvy Co. in Flesherton for the first ever SavvyFest - good vibes all around.

Happy reading and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Roger “Papa Country” Tumminieri

(416) 788-0716

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HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE

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FAMILY MATTERS HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED finding of guilt for this offense will result in a criminal record that may affect employment and travel opportunities. Canadians are routinely denied entry into the United States for having this on their record.

The 0.05 limit is not in the Criminal Code.

The Ontario government passed legislation making it a provincial offense to drive with a BAC of 0.05 or higher. If you are found to have a BAC between 0.05 and 0.07 you won’t receive a criminal record, but you will receive an automatic 3-day driving suspension and a fine of $250.00 for a first-time offense. Young, novice and commercial drivers face even stricter requirements. These drivers must not JASON TODOROFF have any traces of alcohol while driving. The solution to all of this is quite simple and we all Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching, know what that solution is. Stay safe everyone! along with all the accompanying holiday meals. After these holidays, I usually receive numerous inquiries regarding charges for JASON TODOROFF having a blood alcohol concentration or BAC BARRISTER & SOLICITOR at or above 0.05.

7A Main Street East, Markdale jasontodoroff@gmail.com Most people are aware of the 0.08 limit www.jtlawyer.ca contained in the federal Criminal Code. A 519-986-4494 10

HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE

TRACTOR TALK WITH TYSON RIER With Fall here, most contractors are trying to get the last of the outdoor projects wrapped up, and with everything going on this year it’s sure been a crazy summer. For us at Huron Tractor inventory has been a struggle across the board.

Thinking ahead to the spring, now more than ever is the right time to think about adding to, or replacing some of the fleet.

With our John Deere mini excavator line-up, we can decrease downtime and increase productivity. With sizes from 17G to 60G, we are sure to have a machine for every need. With the wide variety of attachments, they can tackle any job.

We are currently taking orders for spring delivery. Backed by a 2-year, 2000 hour warranty, the time has never been better.

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Salesman Huron Tractor - Chatsworth 226.668.2063

2022

FACTORY ORDER PROGRAMS ARE

ON NOW Planning ahead during these times is more impor tant than ever.

Talk to your Huron Tractor Rep today.

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CHAMBER DELICACIES AND DELIGHTS This issue, we were asked to think about food and beverages. What a great opportunity for us to tell you where you can find such goodies in Grey Highlands…well, the Chamber Members, at least!

Places where you can eat: • Brilliant Bread • Colpeppers Ltd. • Flesherton & District Farmers’ Market • Justin’s Oven • Kim’s Place • Marilynne • Susan’s Delicatessen • The Barrhead • The Bicycle Café • The Flying Chestnut Places to pick up ready-made meals, fresh fruits and vegetables, and snacks: • Beaver Valley Ski Club • Brilliant Bread • Colpeppers Ltd. • Dairy Daughter • Flesherton & District Farmers’ Market • Highland Grounds • IDA Drug Store • Kimberley General Store • Majestic Heights Farm • Markdale Foodland • Red Maple Homestead • Rocklyn General Store • Rocklyn Inn B&B Ice Cream & Snack Shop

• The Pickle Guy at Eugenia Emporium • The Market Shoppe • Top O’ The Rock Producers of store items or pre-ordered goods: • Chapman’s Ice Cream • Grist Mill Winery • Ice River Springs Water Co. Inc. Wherever you find yourself in Grey Highlands, at least one of these purveyors of tastiness is undoubtedly nearby. We encourage you to support them, to ensure they’re here for you tomorrow MICHELLE PATEY GREY HIGHLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 13 Toronto St S, Markdale greyhighlandschamber@gmail.com www.greyhighlandschamber.com 519-986-4612

WELLNESS ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE Happy Fall! October is such a beautiful month; leaves are falling, the weather is changing, and we are transitioning from a busy summer season to a period of rest and relaxation.

October also means Thanksgiving! Whether you celebrateThanksgiving or not, October is a great month to practice gratitude.

When we focus on things we are grateful for, our brain gets signals to release dopamine and serotonin! These two things are called neurotransmitters and they are responsible for making us feel good! Happy emotions like joy, excitement, love and gratitude can trigger their release and instantly change our moods.

Here are some ways to practice gratitude this month. Start a journal! Whether it’s first thing in the morning, or before you go to bed, take a quiet moment and write down 3 to 5 things you are grateful for. Another great way to welcome gratitude into your life is by encouraging your family to go around the dinner table and share one thing that happened to them during their day that they appreciated or made them happy. A reflective meditation is another great option. There are many guided meditation apps or YouTube videos you could find.

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TALISA HASKINS If you’re interested in learning more about gratitude, check out my website for some free resources and worksheets.

HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE

Talisa Haskins Registered Psychotherapist www.talisahaskins.com 519.800.5602

WELLNESS THE STORY OF REALITY Does the phrase “objective reality” have a meaning we can comprehend? To be objective, you must not be influenced by personal feelings or opinions. To observe reality requires an individual. At one level, your experience is processed and observed by you. By nature, you will have feelings and opinions about what you experience. On another level, there is a reality that exists that is available for observation, but can you ever actually view what is actually there?

If you have ever wondered how so many differing understandings and interpretations of what is “real” can exist, consider views that differ from your own as the story of another person’s reality.

If we assume that we all share one world, and there is a common reality to observe, how can we end up telling vastly differing stories about one “object”? This comes down to the perspective we have on what we are observing. For a moment, let’s set the idea of what is “true” aside, and consider our own perspective as a story. This is a tale that we tell, both to ourselves and to those around us, about our perception of the world as we observe it.

This story we tell describes what we experience through our senses - what we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel - as well as emotions surrounding this experience. The raw data that we observe is processed and refined into an internal experience. We then take this internal experience, and process it through the filter of language to develop a story that best represents this experience to ourselves. This can be one source of miscommunication - the language we use to tell the story holds a specific meaning, but when shared with another person, those words we use may have another meaning to the listener. When the listener assigns meaning to your words, it is easy to miss the meanings of the words that you’ve used. The

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process transmutes your original meaning into a possibly inaccurate understanding.

For ideas and perspectives that seem far from our own, it can take significant energy to come to an understanding. Part of the energy expenditure comes from moving away from the innate reaction of disagreement and polarizing yourself against the opposing viewpoint. Our initial reaction to an opposing viewpoint is often to move firmly into the position that we hold and stand firm to defend our perspective. This reaction happens unconsciously and it can take significant effort to recognize it and allow yourself to become aware of other perceptions of our shared reality. How much easier would it be if you considered the viewpoints of others as a story for you to explore?

We always live in a reality where there are two sides to every coin. This has been even more apparent in recent times, but regardless, this duality always existed. Consider the fact that even the most high profile philosophers haven’t come up with a definitive definition for reality. Thinking that you have THE story of our shared reality could be an easy way of limiting your own experience and the ability to experience a larger slice of this existence.

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13

THE [re]CALL PROJECT PODCAST LIONA KIRKPATRICK

ROBERT IANTORNO Liona Kirkpatrick is this month’s guest on The [re]CALL Project. Born in Walkerton in 1937, she grew up poor on a farm in Vandeleur, and remembers her mom making their clothes and even their shoes by hand. “Watered potatoes” (potatoes, onions and water cooked in a frying pan) was their staple meal, and she recalls her mother in tears because a beef roast had to go to waste, and they didn’t have the money for more meat.

Liona got to school by horse and sleigh in the winter and horse and buggy in the summer. Back in the day, she says that teachers were looked up to and respected - so much so that when Liona got The Strap (for copying something off of the blackboard incorrectly 3 times), she got the strap again at home for the dishonour.

When World War 2 broke out, Liona and the local children picked milkweeds in exchange for Victory Bonds to support the war effort (milkweed fibres were used for life vests), and her father was thankfully saved from conscription because he was a farmer. She remembers food rations at grocery stores because of the war, and being terrified by stories published in the newspaper.

Liona shares her memories of the great FT Hill store in Markdale, and of customs long since disappeared; like wedding showers to which ladies in attendance would wear their wedding dresses.

Listen to Liona’s life story and others on The [re]CALL Project.

Robert Iantorno Host - The [re]CALL Project Podcast 14

New look, same great service!

David Miles | Financial Advisor Miles Insurance and Investments Inc. 43 Main Sreet West, Markdale, ON, N0C 1H0 T: (519)986-3353 F: (519) 986-3518 40 Main Stret East, Dundalk, ON, N0C 1B0 T: (519)923-2313 F: (519)923-3061

Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands

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COVER STORY THE BURGER GURU; CREATIVE, Full disclosure: I’m not a food writer.

But I do like a good burger...and I can write :) So here goes...

When the Hello Country Fam moved to Flesherton from Toronto almost two years ago, one of the things we missed was the convenience of getting whatever kind of food we wanted whenever we wanted it.

A small price to pay, I suppose, for all the wonderful benefits of Country living. But not anymore.

Grill Cheese It Burger

Thanks to Dave Sadowski and Carrie Tremble, expats from Orangeville who now call Markdale home, The Burger Guru hit the Flesherton foodie scene with a splash this spring. Now we could order food on a Sunday, a Monday or any day after 5pm, when most places around here are otherwise closed. Yippee!

But we’re not just talking about your run-ofthe-mill burger and fries joint operating out of a food trailer. No way, Jose. The Burger Guru, which is ever so conveniently located in the Flesherton Commons parking lot (Hwy 10 just north of Grey Road 4), makes better burgers than any I’ve ever tried.

Sadowski is self-taught and, according to Tremble, drops the jaws of many a seasoned Chef after trying his food.

Pulled Shoulder Burger

“We source most of our ingredients locally,” Sadowski says. “Supporting our neighbours is really important to us.”

Maybe it’s the freshness of his ingredients.

Maybe it’s his creativity. Or, perhaps, it’s simply Sadowski’s inner Guru shining through when he starts cooking. His menu is vast and ambitious. It includes cleverly named items like my personal favourite, the Shroom Head Burger; and the Ya Jamaican Me Crazy Chicken Sandwich, which I recently devoured. The jerk marinade was perfectly balanced so as not to over-power other flavours and covered a more than generous piece of buttermilk chicken, all topped with coleslaw and jalapeno chips.

It didn’t stand a chance.

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake & Onion Bombs 16

Some other notable menu items include: 3 Pigs In A Pool Poutine (hand-cut fries, beef

HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE

QUALITY, DELICIOUS FOOD!

CARRIE TREMBLE & DAVE SADOWSKI The Burger Guru

By: Papa Country

Henhouse Chicken Sandwich

gravy with bacon, your choice of sausage and pulled pork) - need I say more? Onion Bombs (I’m not even going to try to explain this one...but take my word for it, they’re ridiculously good). So, too, are the Jalapeno Bombs (homemade jalapeno popper mac and cheese, battered in panko). Wash it all down with one of The Burger Guru’s fresh Miller’s Dairy Milkshakes. Are you starting to catch my drift here?

Creativity. Quality. Convenience. What more could you ask for?

The Burger Guru’s Covid-friendly, outdoor dining experience made it a foodie destination and attracted a following from those travelling from the city to enjoy the wonders of Grey County. So what does the future hold for Sadowski and Tremble?

Porky and Piglet Melt

“We’re looking into the possibility of opening a restaurant in the area,” the pair said. “We want to continue to serve Grey Highlands.”

If you’ve been enjoying their food (or have yet to try it), note that Burger Guru is closing for the winter near the end of October, weather permitting.

So get it while you can!

THE BURGER GURU Order online! www.theburgerguru.ca Flesherton Commons Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands

Pumba’s Cure 17

LOCAL EVENTS 9TH LINE KITE FESTIVAL

9th LINE KITE FESTIVAL

Photo: Greg Haug

Media Production Coordinator Grey Highlands Cultural Channel

519-924-2241

The Greatest Show Above Earth! That’s how I’ll remember the 9th Line Kite Festival in Markdale this past September. The first of its kind in Grey Highlands, the Festival was organized by local resident, Dave Meslin, and along with a small army of dedicated Volunteers, got off the ground

Sept. 18th & 19th 135091 9th Line, Markdale www.9thline.ca

like...ya, you guessed it...an awesome Dragon Kite! It was so nice to see families from all over Grey County and beyond enjoy the lovely weather and some much needed community camaraderie. Can’t wait ‘til next year!

c New Markdale Hospital P c Your financial support ?

Your funds help heal donate today at

togetherincare.com 18

HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE

RAM RODEO TOUR

By: Papa Country

PAUL MCQUEEN

Mayor of the Municipality of Grey Highlands at the Grey Highlands RAM Rodeo on September 25 & 26 www.ramrodeoontario.com The RAM Rodeo Tour came to Feversham at the end of September and what a show it was! The Rodeo sold out both days, the first of which saw many soggie but smiling attendees and vendors - as well as cowboys, cowgirls, and horses making the best of a harsh and rainy day. Day 2 brought sunshine and more smiles. A big thank-you to Michele Harris

from the Grey Highlands Economic Development Department, Mayor Paul McQueen (pictured here), Ross Millar and the Ross Millar Group, and all the volunteers who made the RAM Rodeo in Grey Highlands a resounding success. Can you say Yee-Haw for 2022?!

Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands

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PRICEVILLE EATS MAMA CHAR’S

By: Papa Country

Priceville just got a whole lot sweeter with Mama Priceville just got a whole lot sweeter with Mama Char movin’ into town. Otherwise known as Charlene Rogers, Mama Char used to sell cars in Walkerton until she decided to pursue her passion for baking. Throwing caution to the wind, she did something not many would do; Char opened a General Store & Bakery in the Priceville Post Office and, before it was even complete, she took over an existing establishment, called Serendipity in Walkerton; focusing on take-out meals, treats, and ice cream. Ironically, it’s beside the car dealership where she used to work. So, ya...Char’s a busy woman!

Everything is homemade and she offers take-home specials through the week which make dinnertime super easy. Check out her Instagram page to keep up to date with her daily features.

Mama Char’s certainly got a knack for baking. Take it from me. I can attest to the efficacy of her Butter Tarts. They’re most definitely worth trying, along with a long list of other menu items, the next time you’re cruising through Priceville.

MAMA CHAR’S GENERAL STORE & BAKERY 174 Kincardine St, Priceville @mamacharseatsandtreats (226) 974-1399

CHARLENE “MAMA CHAR” ROGERS

SERENDIPITY 1451 Yonge St S, Walkerton @serendipity.walkerton (519) 507-1100

y p p a H ! g n i v i g s k n Tha & PRICEVILLE RESIDENT & PRICEVILLE RESIDENT

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HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE

HELLO COUNTRY KIDS HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Fall is my Daddy’s favourite time of year. I hope you and your family have a very He says he loves it when the leaves start to Happy Thanksgiving, too. change colour and the weather starts to get cooler. He says it’s just a matter of time until What are you thankful for? deer season opens. We ate a lot of venison By: Big Brother & The Little Guy this past year, so I guess that’s a good thing.

Subscribe to our new YouTube channel Our family likes to share the things we’re Hello Country Kids grateful for at our Thanksgiving dinner. I’ll tell you right now, I’m thankful for my little brother. He’s the best!

(519) 986-3119

11 Main Street East, Markdale Tues to Sat: 10:30am to 5:30pm Closed: Sun & Mon

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HAPPY THANKGIVING!

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Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands

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BLAZING TRAILS OUR FIRST PROJECT SPOTLIGHT This month I want to tip my hat to our very first clients. Will & Sue Carson were the first people to give us our shot at doing what we do. They brought us in to help develop a trail system on their land and along with this we have grown a friendship and mutual respect for each other’s dreams and hard work.

The Car on trails The Barn Tap House / Quonset A pple All e

Pond

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Birdwalk Empire Sue Lookout

Cedar R ail L ine

Cedar Stroll

144 m

Main Trail

1119 m

The Lane

500 m

arch

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w

Having grown up in this area, Will knew he wanted to move back to the lands of his youth.

Just down the road from the original family home, together he and Sue have created a beautiful rural oasis on their 40 acres of fields and forest.

An old farmstead left unused for decades has been brought back to a thriving space with a new home where gardens grow, sheep and chickens roam, and the land blossoms under the watchful eyes of its loving stewards. It has been an incredible amount of work to bring this land back to glory

Trail Entrance

on

Martin Box

M

Be

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Kestrel Box

Ba

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m

Hawk/Osprey Box West Border Lookout

N

Big

Po

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Peninsula Trail

99 m

Lazy Maple Loop

152 m

Coyote lounge & Latrine South East Crescent

140 m

Total Trail Length

2.3 km

and we are excited to have been a small part of this new beginning. Watching this property come together over the years has been a cool experience. Each year, new elements come together and the trail system expands to connect them all.

put their plans on hold. A few weeks ago, these two love birds were finally able to tie the knot in front of family and friends on the field of the Carson family homestead. Jake and Kara have also moved to the area to call this place home. Congratulations on this new beginning!

The first phase was opening trails through the back forest and over time we have helped to bring a number of projects to reality for this great couple of folks. We have trimmed and limbed back hedgerows to rescue valuable planting space and open long views beyond the property line, cleaned and cleared an area for a bunkie in the woods, designed and installed the trail system to provide access and adventure throughout their favourite spaces, and created a custom map to showcase it all.

It is our privilege to be brought on to assist in creating these spaces where memories are made and family and friends gather to celebrate life’s moments big and small. Getting to know our clients and how they want to live on their land is a key factor in designing a space which truly speaks to the wants and needs of every family member. Whether you are looking to expand or maintain your trails, map out your trail system, or help refining and designing your property dreams, DB Trailblazers is here to help.

This year was a great milestone for their family. Their son, Jake, and his partner, Kara, were supposed to get married last year but, unfortunately, due to the pandemic they had to

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DB TRAILBLAZERS www.dbtrailblazers.ca info@dbtrailblazers.ca Instagram: @dbtrailblazerswildscaping (519) 447-4474

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15 Main St. W., Markdale Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands

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THE LIFE OF A GARLIC FARMER PART 9 When the recipe says 1 clove, use the whole head!

So far I have only talked about the farm, Paul, and the kids. But what about Pure Music Garlic products? I truly can talk all day long about what I make and what to do with one little garlic bulb. When I started Pure Music Garlic, I wanted a spice and seasoning that contained no salt or preservatives and I often get questions like “what do you use garlic chips for?”, “what are scapes?”, and always…”what is black garlic?”.

Garlic chips are for an intense, spicy yummy garlic taste on just about everything from stir-fry to pizza and of course peanut butter on toast. Garlic scapes are part of the flower that grows up from the stem and have an incredible mild garlic, mild chive flavour that is sooo good on anything eggs, potatoes (especially roasted potatoes), soups, stews and stuffing! And let’s not forget black garlic. It is a blackened garlic that is aged under special conditions and now tastes like a balsamic, caramelized,

liquorice, sweet and savoury, creamy yumminess! I’m sure I left out other flavours but that’s umami for you. There are so many ways to use black garlic and on my website I have listed many recipes and uses.

My favourite…make a paste out of a clove with a touch of olive oil and mix it into a good scoop of chocolate ice cream, then add a touch more olive oil and I guarantee you’ve never tasted chocolate before!

LORRAINE IRWIN 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

FARM LIFE BENEFITS OF BONE BROTH I come from a family of 8 siblings – noisy, opinionated, loyal to a fault – and I love them all.

But there’s no doubt about it that I am known in my family as being the ‘health nut’.

Jesse and I didn’t start out this way but then some health issues kinda kickstarted that in us and since then, I’ve taken a keen interest in learning nutrition and the human body. The birth of our first daughter really accelerated that passion again and then when she was sick a lot around 18 months, I thought, “Something has got to change! We can’t be dealing with sickness all winter long!”

Interestingly enough, I do not enjoy cooking.

Not the decision of what’s for dinner, not the executing of that plan, not the clean-up after – I just do not enjoy it. I’ve come to accept this about myself while at the same time always striving to learn more about nutrition and good eating. I cook for my family and it’s my worship to Jesus and I strive to serve them well.

Our style of cooking and eating is very whole foods based, also loosely based around eating what is local and in season to us (which can be a real challenge in the winter!). Sometimes friends have expressed surprise at the amount of food I make from scratch when I dislike cooking so

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much. The short answer: it has become very important to me.

When our daughter was 18 months old and sick a lot, I soon realized there are multiple avenues of supplements, essential oils, and treatments that we could wander down. I suppose we tried those all to some degree but really ended up focusing on nutrition. By that point we were raising a lot of our own meat and with that came bones to make bone broth. I learned how to make bone broth!

It has now become my single biggest go-to when any of us starts getting sick!

I could dive into all the nutrition and goodness of it all but many other people have already written many words about it. For me, my experience is enough to have convinced me!

This will be the third winter in a row that I plan to make lots of bone broth....

Read the rest of this article at www.hellocountry.ca LOUELLA MARTIN Azure Highlands Family Homestead Markdale, ON azurehighlandshomestead@gmail.com

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Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands

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FIELD TO TABLE HIGHPOINT HUNTING PRESERVE

ANDIE RENNIE

Owner & Guide, Highpoint Hunting Preserve 238222 4 Line NE, Melancthon, ON Facebook: @highpointhuntingpreserve (226) 974-0759 This is an article about pheasant hunting.

If you’re still with me, you should know that I’m a relatively new hunter and this was my first time hunting pheasant. As the publisher of your favourite, little local magazine and the co-host of Canada’s Cast & Blast Podcast, I felt it fitting to include this feature in our Food & Drink edition, as well as tape a show about the experience with my good buddy, hunting partner, and host of Canada’s Cast & Blast podcast, Brian Glassey.

In pursuit of the noble quarry, it doesn’t get much better than pheasant hunting.

The civilized nature of the sport avoids the calamity of freezing in a winter duck blind or sitting solo for hours on end in a tree stand waiting patiently for a deer to saunter by, something seasoned hunters may well appreciate. For myself, a newbie hunter, I sought out Highpoint Hunting Preserve in Dufferin County, just outside of Dundalk.

Owner & Guide, Andie Rennie, was gracious

to have Brian and I visit the Preserve and I’m grateful for having the opportunity to meet him and hunt on his land. He spent a good deal of time with us sharing stories of legendary moose hunts in Northern Ontario; the kind of intangible benefits of hunting with an experienced guide like Rennie who spent his formative years living in the South Etobicoke neighbourhood of Long Branch - a place near and dear to my heart.

Now, it should be known that hunting pheasant without the help of dogs is next to impossible. Rennie supplied two dogs for our hunt. Both Llewellin Setters from the same litter; first was Bruno who did the lion’s share of the work and then Molly came into the game as the day became hotter and Bruno began to tire. Without their skill and perseverance, Brian and I would still be out there walking aimlessly through the scenic acreage with our 12-gauges.

It’s an amazing experience watching the dogs as they sniff out the hidden quarry and

Bruno at rest 26

HELLO COUNTRY MAGAZINE

Molly in action

By: Papa Country then retrieve them once downed. We made some good shots, bad shots, and even a noshot. I failed to remove the safety on my gun at one point as a hen flew successfully away from me. In all, Brian and I harvested five roosters (pheasants of the male persuasion), a hen, and a chukar - a tasty little cousin of the pheasant. We parted ways with Rennie and home I went to prepare my feast.

As I tend to do when lucky enough to bring home game, I happily did all the dirty work on the tailgate of my pick-up with the help of our three-year-old son. Later that afternoon, once our eldest son was home from school, we cooked the chukar over an open flame as if surviving in the wilderness and, in a more sophisticated fashion, barbecued the three pheasants - stuffing them with slices of home-grown apples and pears, glazing them with garlic-infused honey, and finishing them with a light sprinkling of sea salt and black pepper. I like to keep these things simple.

The boys loved both the chukar and the pheasant, but the true test awaited.

Would my wife like the taste of pheasant? My future hunting trips hung in the balance.

Brian Glassey ready to hunt Host, Canada’s Cast & Blast Podcast

After some hesitation (she’s still getting used to the taste of wild game), she tried it and, let’s just say, this won’t be my last hunting article!

Thank you again to Andie Rennie of Highpoint Hunting Preserve for a wonderful experience; one most definitely worth repeating.

If you’re interested in a nearby pheasant hunt, I’d highly recommend giving Andie Rennie a call. He offers group hunts as well as trap shooting. He also helps train dogs and sells an all-natural dog food that he feeds his own pups; Dyce’s Naturally Raw. After all, a pheasant hunt is just a leisurely walk without a good dog by your side.

Catch the coverage of this hunt on Canada’s Cast & Blast Podcast and watch footage of our good, bad, and no-shots at www.castandblast.ca.

CA

N A DA

The author harvests his first pheasant Photo by: Brian Glassey

Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands

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THE ARTS FLESHERTON CALLING It seems that most artists or enablers of art who have been discussed in this column have been imports to Grey County. In East Coast parlance, they have “come from away”. This month, the subject is a lifelong resident of Grey County and, in addition to that, has been fostering cultural growth in our community for over 41 years.

Wilda Allen, the current CEO of the Grey Highlands Public Library, will retire on December 31, 2021.

She was born and grew up on a farm in Dundalk and attended Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton. Her great grandmother, Edith Campbell, was a distant cousin to Agnes Macphail.

Her contribution to cultural life in Grey County began somewhat inauspiciously. Following Labour Day in 1980, she started as the Chief Librarian of the Flesherton Library, which was located on the main floor of a house on Elizabeth Street. At the time, it was a 12-hour-a-week job managing an annual budget of around $8,000. She supervised the night librarian who worked one four-hour shift per week. Only the summer student, who had a 35-hour week, was fulltime.

Wilda has seen many changes to the library during her tenure, from the single site she managed to the addition of the Markdale, Kimberley, and an internet virtual branch following amalgamation.

She was actively involved in the expansion of the Flesherton Library, learning as much as she could about creating the ideal community hub with visits to other Ontario libraries as they expanded and witnessing the progress of the community-built Markdale Library as it was being erected. All this would help in her role as the project manager for the new Flesherton Library building.

As important as these accomplishments were, Wilda’s biggest impact during her career was her contribution to the cultural life of Grey County. In 1988, she took advantage of a writer-in-residence government program and enlisted the services of Penn Kemp, a poet and novelist. This led to readings from other writers and poets, most notably Dave McFadden. The positive experience this meant for the community led to the Harvest Café series of readings in 1994, where prominent Canadian writers and poets presented their work to our community. Dozens of these were held in the years since, in addition to Canada Council readings, featuring such writers as Dan Needles, Gail Bowen, Helen Humphries, Arthur Black, Alan Maitland, William Deverell, Jennifer Robson, Ted Barris (multiple times), and Douglas Gibson among many others. But it was the first which was perhaps the most memorable. Stuart McLean, the iconic Canadian raconteur, entertained those in attendance with his charm and his wit. His

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KEVIN ARTHUR LAND

Owner, Speaking Volumes Books and Audio 12 Toronto Road, Flesherton kevinarthurland@gmail.com www.kevinarthurland.ca

characteristic gentle nature was evident when he was asked to judge the winning pumpkin in a contest. Not wanting to offend the owners of the multiple losing entries, Stuart simply chose the smallest one.

It is impossible to document all of Wilda’s cultural achievements for our community.

In recent years, she has raised more than $2 million dollars in government grants for initiatives that elevated our cultural life.

Along with the Museum, she facilitated a series of cultural roundtables, which led to the formation of the first and only Cultural Channel administered by an Ontario library and resulted in a videographer on staff documenting local history as it happens.

Her efforts during the sesquicentennial year led to the selection of a local Poet Laureate, which the library hopes to renew in 2022, and a Gala at Grey Highlands Secondary School.

Add these to the day-in, day-out activities of a community hub - the children’s readings, the summer program, the movie nights, the maintenance of community meeting rooms, the Arts Contests for aspiring creators and you have a thing of wonder, indeed.

Certainly, fertile ground for her successor to work with.

Job well done, Wilda.

Kevin Arthur Land is a playwright, screenwriter, arts educator, and the owner of Speaking Volumes Books and Audio in Flesherton.

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Speaking Volumes Books and Audio “Experience is the hardest kind of teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterwards.”

-Oscar Wilde

12 Toronto Rd. Flesherton, ON 905-719-8878 homelandk@sympatico.ca

@speakingvolumesflesherton Supporting Local Farms & Businesses In Grey Highlands

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HOUSING UPDATE BY GREY COUNTY REAL ESTATE INC. The weather is turning chilly, the fall colours have started to appear and with that October marks the beginning of the waning year, reminding us to review and give thanks for all the success – big and small – as well as the life lessons that we’ve experienced.

So far, this year has delivered many changes in all aspects of our lives and the local real estate market is no exception with marked dramatic effects: values have been soaring, driven by the steady migration of people moving out of the city and into Grey County. As well, local industries are thriving, new developments are underway and major investments are being made in our communities.

There are other forces that influence the fall market. Buyers and Sellers generally become more motivated this time of year by a desire to move before the snow arrives. With the number of properties available for sale at an all-time low and a continued demand for all

property types, it seems that the strength in our market will hold.

So, as the temperature is heading down, the real estate market continues to heat up.

What will this last quarter bring? Projections are pointing in a positive direction; we don’t have that magic “crystal ball” to predict the future but we do have years of experience and the know-how to assist our clients make the necessary decisions about their real estate affairs. We are living in a rapidly changing world and we, at Grey County Real Estate, strive to help you make your move with relative ease and confidence.

We also take this opportunity to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

ERIC ROBERTSON, BROKER

ALEX RUFF THANK YOU!

GREY COUNTY REAL ESTATE INC. 39 Main St E, Markdale www.greycountyrealestate.com 519-986-2552

I would like to sincerely thank the constituents of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound for providing the opportunity to serve our great community once again in the 44th Parliament. Specific issues that were highlighted throughout the recent campaign that I will seek to address in the House of Commons include: labour shortages, rural infrastructure including highspeed internet/broadband, meat processing capacity, affordability, and specifically affordable housing.

Election campaigns require a dedicated team of volunteers along with incredible family support.

I cannot thank my team enough for their continued support throughout the recent campaign. Further, I would like to recognize the other candidates for their efforts and for running respectful campaigns. It takes great personal sacrifice and dedication to the community to put your name on the ballot.

Finally, thank you to all those constituents who voted and partook in this democratic right that many other countries around the globe are lacking. Continuing to serve as 30

ALEX RUFF, MSC, CD, MP

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound

your Member of Parliament is a humbling privilege. I remain committed to serving our riding honourably and representing all constituents in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound.

Thank you!

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