autumn 2018...autumn 2018 prince edward county and quinte region inside: native plants make a fuller...

autumn 2018

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InSIDE: native plants make a Fuller garden, Harmony in northumberland, @ Home at Blizzmax, Little Italy in the County, plus so much more.

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4 COUNTY & QUINTE LIVING AUTUmN 2018 countyandquinteliving.com

IN THIS ISSUEEach issuE availablE onlinE at: www.countyandquinteliving.caPRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND QUINTE REGION

ON THE COVERBarn Owl Malt’s Devin and Leslie Huffman take a break with Bernie.Photography by Daniel Vaughan

8NorthumberlaNd music studio a harmonious oasis by Vic Schukov

1838 hours to moNtreal a road trip in 1840by Dan Buchanan

26 reiNtroduciNg Native plaNtsone seed at a timeby Jennifer Shea

36barN owl malttraditional grain malting to the ontario craft brewing industry by Jennifer Shea

46little italy oN the lake by Vic Schukov

59sigNpostsThe glen miller storyby Lindi Pierce

60@ home with alaN gratias peter and alice mennacherby Alan Gratias

66gravitasGail Harvey by Alan Gratias

5countyandquinteliving.com COUNTY & QUINTE LIVING AUTUmN 2018

General ManaGeradam Milliagan

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editorCatherine Stutt

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Photo editordaniel Vaughan

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adVertiSinG exeCutiVeSorlinda Johnston 613.966.2034 x 795015

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tim Sheppard 613.966.2034 x [email protected]

olivia roseSpecial Publications & Multimedia representative

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deSiGndeSiGn/GraPhiCS editor: Kathern Bly

deSiGn & ProduCtion: Monica MctaggartSusan K. Bailey Marketing & design

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ContriButinG WriterS

dan Buchananalan Gratiaslindi Pierce

Vic SchukovJennifer Shea

ContriButinG PhotoGraPherSKate Boland

dan Buchananalan Gratias

lindi Piercedaniel Vaughan

adMiniStration Sharon laCroix [email protected]

For diStriBution inquirieS Call 613.966.2034

County & quinte living is published quarterly and is available free of charge through strategic partners, wineries, golf courses, real estate, and chamber of commerce offices, retail outlets, and advertiser locations. County & quinte living may not be reproduced, in part or whole, in any form without prior written consent of the publisher. Views expressed by contributors are their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of County & quinte living. home delivery Subscription rate $25 a year, hSt included. County & quinte living is a division of Metroland Media Group ltd.

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North Star has earned an enviable reputation for producing high-quality and energy effi cient windows and doors.Tested and certifi ed by both the Canadian Standards Association and American Architectural Manufacturers Association, all of North Star’s windows and doors not only meet or exceed all industry standards, they meet our own high standards. And we back them with a transferable, limited lifetime warranty to prove it.

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North Star Windows & DoorsJOB DESCRIPTION

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REVISIONS

FNL

VERSION

A-5

North Star has earned an enviable reputation for producing high-quality and energy effi cient windows and doors.Tested and certifi ed by both the Canadian Standards Association and American Architectural Manufacturers Association, all of North Star’s windows and doors not only meet or exceed all industry standards, they meet our own high standards. And we back them with a transferable, limited lifetime warranty to prove it.

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Catherine Stutt, Editor, County and Quinte [email protected]

ith an abundance of optimism, I suggested to Darryl we replace our ailing front deck this summer.

The old deck was not providing what even the kindest designers would call curb appeal. We use it often – almost every evening if the weather is even remotely cooperative, pushing the seasons.

I love winter. I loved the blizzards of Muskoka – the Georgian Bay streamers dumping three feet of snow in a day, a couple of days in a row. When we get snow, I’m out there, and there’s nothing as fun as shovelling the deck and hitting a raised screw. Several times. My massage therapist really loves it.

Darryl’s a warm weather guy. High heat and high humidity and he’s all smiles. His favourite February location is Lockyer’s in Picton, where he communes with the turtles and soaks in the greenhouse glory.

We have taken Florida vacations in July, and Maine vacations in November. He’s Coke to my Pepsi, red to my white, and yet somehow this police officer married to the journalist thing continues to be a pretty good deal. Time to test that theory and build a deck together.

In our neighbourhood, of which I have written often and lovingly, there is no such thing as a solitary project. In fact, here on this hill, there are seldom enough chores for all the help available. Last year, Darryl was sidelined with a recurrence of a back injury. I don’t think we had to mow our lawn once. There was a waiting list of neighbours to help. On any given snow day, under the parkas and toques and mittens, the only way to tell the neighbours apart is by their snowblowers, which are usually finishing someone else’s driveway. It’s a good ’hood.

We knew when we started the deck help was near, but we really wanted to tackle this on our own. Partly for the challenge and pride of a job well done, but mostly because we have a reputation for being a very happy couple, and we thought it best to shield others from the inevitable.

I have a much greater confidence in my construction abilities than may actually exist, and Darryl hates construction. Hates it. Hates it. Hates it. He has a full woodworking shop and creates beautiful pieces, but he feels construction inhibits his self-expression, although I have to say, at times we seemed quite good at expressing exactly how we felt about the deck project. Very clear. Crystal.

First, a visit with Rick Jones at the building department. He’s an aviation buff, and a most helpful down-to-earth inspector. We chatted about the plans, and then he saved us a huge hunk of money, hours of extra work, and mistakes. “If you’re not a professional builder, talk to one,” he gently admonished. “You’re building a deck, not an aircraft carrier.”

With the old deck demolished and a big pile of lumber in the driveway, staring at us, taunting us, daring us, just beyond we saw salvation. Our 81-year-old neighbour, a retired shop teacher, an experienced builder, Jim has kept us clear of the shoals before.

With plans discussed and assignments understood, Jim went on with his day, while we made progress. He’d check in every morning and evening, suggesting, teaching, and never hesitant to get in the trenches with us. Suddenly, this pile of construction material was turning into a structure. Miracle of miracles, it was level, plumb, and square. While we were working, we’d hear a lawn tractor in the distance and glimpse Douglas or his nephew David, our neighbours to the east, cutting our tricky ditches or our lower land near their property line.

Our neighbour Lil is an award-winning gardener and she loves tropical plants. As soon as our planters were in place, she interrupted her own work to create a mini-jungle, matching the two new gardens she’d already designed for us.

When I write about neighbours, read friends.

The deck is done. We use it every evening, still happily together. We chat with neighbours walking dogs and children and watch the sunset and live our Norman Rockwell lives on our very precious hill, where some evenings bagpipes play in the distance and aircraft from nearby 8 Wing give us a private airshow.

We learned a lot during this project. We learned good neighbours make good decks, and if neighbours are going to build something, let’s not make it a wall.

Thanks for turning the page.

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Andy Thompson’sNorthumberland

Music Studio

Story by Vic SchukovPhotography by Daniel Vaughan

A harmonious oasis

Brighton’s coolest recording nook, Northumberland Music Studio, is easy to overlook while driving by on County Road 30. Just like its owner-in-residence, Andy Thompson, who packs a skill set comprised of composer, arranger, producer, engineer, and performer, the musicians’ retreat is unassuming and welcoming.

The century home is tucked into a small retreat of tall trees, surrounded by an almost fairy tale forest, and the sweeping pastures are defined by distant timber land.

The old barn can’t be spotted until a visitor turns down a cozy country lane past a mailbox resembling a birdhouse. Seclusion is part of Andy’s business, the element that makes his studio so magnetic. While there is peace and quiet outside in the lap of Mother Nature, there is sweet music resonating inside that barn.


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There is no sign out on the road, because musicians who want to play amongst the studio’s toys know where it is. At first glance, the barn is not what it appears to be. The stairs are lined with vintage pictures of Andy’s 1970s performing years; his musical journey has led to this place in time.

Andy was born in Bolton, England, and came to Toronto at age three. He stayed until 1979, at age 24, long enough for the die of his fate to be cast.“While I was in grade two, a representative

of St. Michael’s Choir School came by and asked if there were any students showing leanings toward music. I was pointed out,

and my grades were good. Three kids were chosen but only my parents agreed to enrol me at the music school, as they figured I could handle the one-hour daily trip from our home downtown – two buses, a street car, and a subway. I started grade three at seven years old and remained first soprano for the longest time. Did I want to go? I don’t remember, but I didn’t enjoy the regimentation of school.” The nature of going against the grain would forever pervade his being.

In retrospect, he was fortunate the personal yellow brick road was chosen for him. “I should have been an engineer. In grade 11, I

“my parents wanted me to go into engineering;

I wanted music.

”

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won a science award for designing a model hovercraft powered by a gas engine. The principal put me in touch with the Dean of Engineering at University of Toronto, and he took me on a tour of the department. The dean told my principal if I could get through high school I would breeze through university.” It turned out to be a big if.

That very year, he won an award for most promising piano student, and thus he came to a crossroad in his life. “My piano teacher sensed I wasn’t into the straight ahead classical stuff, and she gave me a 19-page piece by Debussy to play, and my nerves kicked in. My parents wanted me to go into engineering; I wanted music. Luckily, the matter was settled by an independent vocational counsellor who asked me what I wanted and then advised me to follow my heart and choose music.”

His 10 years at St. Michael’s Choir School came to a brusque end. “For my grade 12 recital, I performed a progressive rock concerto by a heady group of the day. I started to play the unconventional piece and the whole front row of adjudicators stood up and walked out. Anyway, my grades were lousy which sealed their decision to throw me out of the choir school. I was 18 at the time.” Andy completed grade 12 in Toronto’s Midland College, and never looked back.

He then formed a successful ’70s dance band called Shadowfax and toured Ontario and Quebec. He wrote and performed original music. In 1976, Andy wrote a 26-minute piece called time Machine. “It went through every time signature known to man,” he said, and won CHUM FM’s Battle of the Bands. “My parents were very supportive and let me convert one of their rooms at the house into a rehearsal space.


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PLUS MANY, MANY MARKDOWNS - HURRY IN!

CHETWYND FILMS: The Mythmakers. A documentary about the invention of the automobile, its growth, and metamorphosis, hosted by William Shatner.

ABC FILMS: The sea is at her Gates. A co-production with NATO and the Canadian Navy, documenting Canada’s naval contribution during all the major wars of the 20 century. Hosted by Raymond Burr.

MTO: Andy was the Ministry of Transportation go-to composer for over a decade and produced musical scores and sound effects for dozens of film and animated productions including the complete Drivesave and trucksave series.

SOMA FILM PRODUCERS: For more than 15 years, Andy was the exclusive composer for this prolific film company with the majority of contracts commissioned by TVO and The Knowledge Network; close to 100 instructive and entertainment films were produced with Andy’s musical affectations, including Kite crazy, beer, set Your sails, and The Green Earth.

MOBIUS MEDIA: Andy’s long-term relationship with producers Marilyn Belec (past President of the Atlantic Film Board) and Roman Bittman (former Executive Producer for

The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation) produced dozens of dramatic shorts, TV ads, and major features. Bittman’s recommendation drew Andy’s film talents to the attention of the 2005/2006 NAAF awards who recognized his sensitivity and ability to deliver and adapt on a moment’s notice to changes of plan.

ATLANTIC MEDIA WORKS:CBC dramatic film scores included 101 Fire hydrants, Paradise siding, and The Dance.

SC ENTERTAINMENT: Andy delivered several award-winning documentaries, also composing music for full length Canadian features like into the Fire (with Susan Anspach and Art Hindle), Friends lovers and lunatics (Daniel Stern and Sheila McCarthy), The secret ingredient (Catherine Hicks and Sam Wannamaker.)

MICROTAINMENT/GLOBAL: He scored the 13-part series Daring and Grace, “requiring a Smashing Pumpkins alternative approach.”

ENVIRONMENT CANADA: For over a decade, he created all the radio ads including music, sound effects and voice-overs (courtesy of long-time friend Roy Bonisteel) for EC’s Ontario Parks division.

His on-going musical odyssey includes an eclectic list of clients:s:


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The timpani drum wouldn’t fit through the door, so Dad cut a section out,” he laughed.

In 1972, he set up a music studio in a rented downtown apartment and started scoring films. His first contract was one of many documentaries for TV Ontario, entitled a seal song. Excerpts from this film, along with the musical score, continually show up in nature films worldwide.

Having acquired the first Moog synthesizer in Toronto, Andy wrote film music while continuing to tour with the busy band. His first full length feature came in 1987, and his portfolio eventually grew to more than

300 scores for made-for-television dramatic series and informational films.

Shadowfax disbanded in 1979, and Andy moved to Brighton to set up the present studio. “My Mum found this place because she thought it would be nice to live in the country. I immediately set up an electronic music studio in the house, and then personally renovated the old barn to accommodate the new venue. You sort of have to be handy.”

Andy continues to produce CDs for many local recording artists such as country singers Lorne Buck and George Fox (with

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whom he tours as the musical director). “What puts a smile on my face is a really good musical performance. When I perform on stage, I enjoy when the audience gives back. In most cases with all the bands I put together, I love the chemistry between the musicians and artists. The audience pays homage to the feature artist, and that makes me proud.”

When he is not touring, he holes up in the barn’s elevated control room gazing down on the recording studio made in heaven. “The allure of my country studio is the lack of distraction. It’s relaxing. The Fade Kings just recorded their 25th anniversary CD, live off the floor. They were amazing.”

Andy’s early introduction to electronic music, effects, plus a background in classical music, rock, impressionistic, jazz, country, and bluegrass made him a pioneer in musical innovation, a reality not lost with film producers needing scores and soundscapes for their productions. Andy endures as a much sought-after session player, writer, composer, arranger, engineer, and producer. For the last two years, he has also been the audio tech for Westben Theatre.

In conversation, Andy is no different form his working persona. He is patient, measured in speech, generous in spirit, and fosters a genuine down-home interest in his work. He is equally open-hearted with both new and established artists.

Northumberland Music Studio, in every respect, is a true musical oasis.

38 Hours to Montreal – A Road Trip in 1840 –

Author, historian, genealogist Dan Buchanan recently released his second book, 38 Hours to Montreal, chronicling Governor General Charles Poulett Thomson’s mad dash from the capital of Upper Canada to the capital of Lower Canada.

Following the success of Murder in the Family: The Doctor King Story, a true story of Dan’s ancestor who was the only person executed in Northumberland County, the author turned from true crime to politics. With his trademark accuracy and attention to detail, Dan takes readers with him along the route, telling the tale of the winter ride in 1840.

Dan’s love of history and writing is evident, as is his inherent commitment to the craft. It is much more than just a chance to tell a story, although his talent for that is obvious. “I believe if you are able-bodied and able-minded, you owe it to society to make the best of your resources to build upon the society that made you,” he shared. “Everyone has a path. I make myself part of history. It’s not unique to my heritage, of course, but I make it my own, in my own way.”

Dan kindly shared with CQL readers the Governor General’s ride through the Quinte area, in the stagecoach owned and driven by William Weller, of considerable local fame.

Excerpt from 38 Hours to Montreal © Dan Buchanan.

William Weller was in a big hurry as he swung the two-horse team to the right in front of Simon Kellogg’s tavern at the corner of Main and Prince Edward Street in Brighton. He encouraged the team to pick up speed as they galloped along the Kingston Road which, in 1840, followed more or less the same route as Number 2 Highway today.

The fellow reclining in the back of the sleigh was also in a big hurry. Governor General Charles Poulett Thomson had spent three months passing major reform legislation through the Parliament of Upper Canada in Toronto and now his bosses in London were anxious for word of his success along the same lines in Montreal. There was also

Photo by Daniel Vaughan


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the promise of a peerage, just maybe, if the Queen approved.

Both men were not the type to wait around if things needed doing, so a contract was drawn up and Mr. Weller signed on to drive all the way to Montreal in under 38 hours – or forfeit his fee! Most folks thought it was an outrageous idea. Nobody had ever driven that far that fast. But they would also grin and say, “If anyone can do it, Mr. Weller can!”

Oh, and there was something else. A wager was placed on Mr. Weller’s success in meeting the terms of the contract. The amount was 1,000 pounds! That was a lot of money in 1840 and we can expect it acted, as intended, as a strong motivator.

The travellers had departed from Beverly House in Toronto at 7 a.m. Monday morning February 17, 1840 and galloped through Cobourg at around 11. They stopped to change horses every 15 miles, most recently at the Grafton Inn and then again at Proctor Inn, at Huff Road west of Brighton. The next stop would be just before the covered bridge over the Trent River. They would then stop for an hour at the Mansion House Hotel in Belleville, to rest their bones and enjoy the only meal for a day and half.

As the sleigh sped through Smithfield on the way to Trent Port, Governor General Thomson may have contemplated the daunting task awaiting him in Montreal. The Mackenzie Rebellion was only two years past and nerves were still very raw,

Photos courtesy Dan Buchanan



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extreme partisan positions being the normal manner of discourse. Lord Durham had been and gone, providing his Durham Report with recommendations for changes to the governance of Upper and Lower Canada. British gentlemen could not fathom why normally peaceful Canadians had actually taken up arms against the crown, but they were intent on preventing it from happening again.

Of course, that meant curbing the power of the elite families, the so-called Family Compact. Charles Thomson had been appointed as Governor General and sent to the Canadian colonies with specific instructions. There would be a union of Upper and Lower Canada, elimination of lifetime tenures, separation of judicial and political systems, and the creation of what they called department-style government. The union would be a dud, but the other reforms were critical to modernizing the government, preparing the ground for responsible government a decade later and then, finally, the big push for a federal union and Confederation. But, one step at a time.

Mr. Thomson had stunned the legislators in Toronto with his deep command of financial matters and a bitingly sharp logic that tore their conventional arguments to Photo courtesy Dan Buchanan


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shreds. Conservative members saw the writing on the wall as soon as they encountered this very different Governor General. Here was no tired, jaded, half-retired general with medals dangling and little grasp of modern affairs. This man could hand out goodies one moment and get you to agree to give up your old life the next. Many powerful men in Toronto were extremely happy to see the back of the Governor General. And good riddance!

Up on the bench, Mr. Weller was in his element. He had driven this road so many times in the last decade and more. He knew every hill and valley, every bridge, mud hole, and crazy turn. Of course, in 1840, there were no culverts or overpasses, not even gravel roads, except the very unusual and extremely expensive stretch from Napanee to Kingston that had been macadamized just a year before. Most roads were plain old dirt, following the lay of the land and subject to the weather in a way we can’t imagine today.

In fact, the worst mud hole between Toronto and Kingston was just east of Wicklow, known as Herriman Hill. A unique type of soil along the north side of Nathaniel Herriman’s farm, around where Knight’s Appleden is today, kept stage drivers and teamsters on their toes. Once it got wet, this piece of road turned into gumbo that sucked in wagon wheels and horses’ hooves

in equal measure. The old term “carrying a rail” came from this era and this kind of spot as passengers, no matter how expensive their clothes, were expected to get out and help. Find a fence rail along the road and stick it under a wheel, and pry for all you are worth. Such were the joys of travel in the early days.

One might ask, with all these difficulties along the way, how could Mr. Weller meet the terms of his contract? How could he cover the 376 miles from Toronto to Montreal, changing horses 24 times, avoiding all the pitfalls and risks of stagecoach travel? There are many answers. First, it was February, so the frost was still in the ground, keeping the dirt roads relatively solid. Second, there were no blizzards during the trip. The weather had turned mild a few days earlier, melting most of the snow, leaving a fairly smooth passage in most places.

There is more to it than that. Mr. Weller was a very detail-oriented businessman and had worked hard for a decade to build a system to support efficient stagecoach travel. He knew every tavern and hotel owner along the line and had arrangements with them that brought in customers and helped them stay in business. Dozens of horses had to be raised and trained on farms along the road, with efforts to improve the breeding and the feed to result in more reliable engines for the system. Many travel


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horror stories of the time include drunken and abusive stage drivers and Mr. Weller improved on this by hiring carefully, paying decently, and treating all employees with respect.

Besides all this, William Weller was known as one of the most genial and pleasant men to deal with. This would not hurt at all when he sent messengers down the road before the trip, asking for two-horse teams to be ready at a time and place, to allow for very quick changes. It’s not hard to imagine the excitement people felt at the prospect of helping Mr. Weller in this enterprise. Every bit of planning and positive attitude would contribute to success.

A covered bridge had been built across the Trent River in 1834, replacing the ferry service that had run across the river for several decades. The new bridge was a marvel of its time, with an open area at the west end, including a draw bridge for boats to pass. The eastern two-thirds of the bridge was covered, like a barn, keeping travellers out of the weather, at least for a few yards. Mr. Weller and other stagecoach drivers would have welcomed the quick and safe crossing but would be extra careful with the horses as they crossed. Some horses might be spooked by the loud noise of their own hooves on the planks reverberating around inside the enclosed section.

In the end, Mr. Weller would meet the terms of his contract and the Governor General would successfully pass his legislation and gain a peerage to boot. Mr. Weller was happy to collect his fee at the end of the trip, as well as 1,000 pounds from the wager. Add a fine gold watch as a gift from the Governor General and Mr. Weller had a very successful trip.

Not bad for a day and a half ’s work!Photo by Daniel Vaughan, inset courtesy Dan Buchanan.

Re-introducing

Native Plantsto local gardens,

one seed at a time

Story by Jennifer SheaPhotography by Daniel Vaughan

A visit to a nursery or garden centre can be a daunting experience for many, particularly those who are new to gardening. Understanding types of plants, when and where to plant, and how to maintain them can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there’s a local option to make it easier: Fuller Native and Rare Plants on Airport Parkway in Belleville.

This nine-year-old nursery specializes in plants that grow naturally in our area, making them more likely to be successfully grown in most local landscapes. Native perennials, wildflowers, grasses, ferns, shrub seedlings, and bulbs are available for purchase.

Owner Peter Fuller has had a lifelong interest in horticulture, but he ended up in education. He was a secondary school teacher in both the Belleville and Ottawa areas for many years. When he left teaching 10 years ago, his goal was to set up a business that fed his interests in both the outdoors – hiking, camping, canoeing – and gardening.


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“I started the five-year plan when I was in Ottawa, which turned into the seven-year plan before I finally left teaching,” said Peter. The plan included learning all he could about propagating plants from seed and operating a greenhouse. “There’s a good horticulture program at Algonquin College in Ottawa and I did that part-time – evenings, summers, weekends. It got more intentional as I was out hiking – really learning all the plants and starting to experiment with them in the garden.”

Peter’s brother-in-law purchased farmland on Airport Parkway and severed a few acres with an old stone farmhouse where Peter could live and start his nursery business. His vision was to offer native plants that are propagated at the nursery, mostly from seed collected from local sources using ethical seed collection practices.“I have friends who have woodlots and

rural properties and I get permission to go and collect in their yards,” he said. “Now that we have quite extensive gardens here, I can collect a lot of seed from my own plants. I use a 100-mile radius of the nursery as my definition of what a native plant is, so it includes quite a lot of the Great Lakes region and onto the Canadian Shield. There’s a pretty wide variety of plants available.”


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One of the primary goals of the nursery is to convince people of the value of local plants and growing from seed in order to create genetic diversity.

Steve Barker is certainly convinced. He lives in Toronto and owns a large property in Madoc with a small rustic cottage he uses as a getaway from city life. He decided to dig a pond on the property and, in consultation with the Quinte Conservation Authority, was directed to Fuller Native and Rare Plants for ideas about planting material.

“Peter came by and had a look at what we were doing, and he put together a planting plan,” said Steve. “This included native plants and trees, shrubs, and perennials. It was largely about stabilizing the land around this pond and augmenting it, and then setting it up for the future to attract wildlife – all in a way that utilized native plants.”

Peter’s guidance, which included a planting map, made it possible for Steve and his family and friends – all inexperienced gardeners –

to put the flowers, trees, and shrubs into the ground.“We started off with just a few areas, and

every year it’s grown, and we’ve augmented,” shared Steve. “It’s not as much about ‘this is how we want it to look.’ It’s more of an interpretive thing where we’re kind of growing and changing it.”

Steve’s goal was to augment the existing ecosystem on his property. “It meant increasing the diversity of the ecosystem; also

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introducing plants that would attract wildlife – bees or squirrels or deer or whatever.” Steve is also seeing many more birds on his property. “We have bluebirds now and tree swallows and cedar waxwings. All kinds of different birds are taking advantage of the ecosystem we’ve now created that wouldn’t have been there before.”

Jes McDonald is an experienced gardener who plans and installs gardens for clients in addition to tending her own. She has developed a keen interest in soil types, diversity, and the value of native plants, particularly those grown from seed sourced from good genetic stock. “Peter Fuller is one of the first people I’ve met in Ontario who has a nursery and does that. It allows me to


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do a whole bunch of things horticulturally speaking, ecologically speaking, that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.”

Over the last few years, Peter has offered consultation services as part of his business model. For a modest fee, he will visit a property and offer advice about appropriate plant materials. “I identify everything that’s there, but most of the time, I’m supplying

lists of plants suited to that location and advising how to set up different types of gardens.”

The gardeners who visit Peter’s business are increasingly looking for something they don’t already have in their gardens, and something they can grow successfully.

“There are a lot of people wanting plants that are going to be drought-tolerant, lower

maintenance, work with the weird summers we get, and not require a lot of fuss,” said Peter.“I find a lot of people are interested in using

the plant material, but they’re not really familiar with all the plants and which ones to choose and what they are going to look like. The challenge is trying to communicate that. We do have a lot of display gardens, but they’re not blooming first thing in the spring when the plants are ready for purchase.”

The display gardens at Fuller Native and Rare Plants set the business apart from the average nursery. Over the years, Peter has installed a large rock garden, using rocks from the back of the farm and filled with plants that grow in rocky soil. He built some seasonal ponds with wetland plants, native woodland gardens, and a meadow garden. Propagation beds have been put in, both for harvesting seed and for demonstrating the variety of native plants that can be grown from seed. A shrub and tree planting near Peter’s house features a variety of deciduous and evergreen species Peter can assess for their landscaping suitability, as well as offer for sale.“My gardening style is a little bit informal

and eclectic, naturalized,” explained Peter. “I don’t have to have things super, super formal, and I live with a certain amount of chaos. To some extent, it mimics what you see in the wild, which I actually prefer.”

When it comes to propagating new plants from seed, Peter has learned a lot with experience. “There are two or three basic methods that work for most things. There are some default ones you can try, and if it obviously isn’t working, you do a bit more research with it and try things out. Plants are a little bit unpredictable. You try it the first time and it works beautifully, and you think you have it figured out, and you do the same thing next year and it’s a disaster. There are certainly some things I’ve got better at in terms of predicting the most efficient way of doing them.”

Although plant sales are a seasonal activity, Peter’s business keeps him hopping all year. He collects seeds from May right through to November. The native seed then must be stored in a cold setting to simulate winter conditions. While the seed is chilling, Peter focuses on making plans for the next growing season and updating his website with next



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year’s offerings. When March arrives, Peter starts seeding and planting, both indoors under lights and outdoors. The nursery opens for retail business in May.

Peter donates a percentage of retail sales to local conservation work. “The last while, we’ve been supporting the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory and their migration monitoring down in Prince Edward County,” said Peter. “It’s a completely volunteer-run organization doing really important conservation work for birds.”

Peter’s regular customers come from an area from Ottawa down to Gananoque, Prince Edward County, Port Hope, Peterborough, and Bancroft. Everyone seems pleased with what Fuller Native and Rare Plants has to offer. “I really appreciate how knowledgeable Peter is and how willing he is to provide advice,” stated Steve Barker.

“Certainly, it’s been great for us because it’s been this one-stop shop.”

Jes McDonald agrees, “It’s a very shoppable nursery for anybody – amateurs to experts.”

Barn Owl MaltReintroducing Tradi t ional Grain Malt ing

to the Ontar io Craf t Brewing Industry

Story by Jennifer SheaPhotography by Daniel Vaughan

Barn Owl Malt’s name, carefully selected by owners Devin and Leslie Huffman, speaks to a different era in agriculture, when mixed farming created a habitat in which barn owls could thrive. Modern farming practices have changed the habitat to the point where there are fewer than five pairs of barn owls remaining in Ontario.

When they launched their company on Zion Road in Belleville in 2015, Devin and Leslie wanted a name that reflected the agricultural nature of their work, but also spoke to their approach to business, which embraces the traditional style of malt manufacturing and production that would have been commonly seen in the early 1800s when barn owls were also prevalent in the region.

The Huffmans met while working in the forestry industry, relocating several times throughout western Canada to access available work. When they decided to settle down and start their own business, they

purchased a farm property belonging to Devin’s grandparents.

They considered a few different farm-based ventures before landing on malt production. “We were keen on craft beer and were following the industry and even had taken a bit of time to look at a farm brewery possibility, but what stood out was the supply chain,” says Devin. “We realized, for all these local craft breweries, there were no local grain options. That was an opportunity to pioneer an industry; something that wasn’t formulaic. We had a lot of freedom to be creative and develop the concept.”

Malt is an essential ingredient in beer. The malting of the source grain (usually barley) produces enzymes and sugars that feed yeast in the brewing process and contribute to the body and colour of the end product. Hops and water are the other two primary ingredients.


Barn Owl Malt’s decision to use the traditional floor malting technique was driven by a couple of factors: It allowed Devin and Leslie to enter the malting business without a significant capital equipment investment that would have been required for mechanical malting; it also allowed the couple to have their business located on their farm versus moving it to an industrial area and commuting to work every day. With four-year-old and two-year-old boys, having their business close to home was highly desirable.

Prior to working in forestry, Devin had studied engineering. His skills were put to good use designing and building much of the equipment for the malt house, including the kiln. Leslie had studied horticulture which also came in handy. “Once we realized we were going to go forward with the malt house, we did some malting-specific training,” says Devin. “I went to the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre and trained as a maltster there and then did a lot of independent study and research.”“The technique we’re using is the traditional,

historical method of malting,” says Leslie. “We were reading books reprinted from the 1800s drawing on all kinds of old information. We have a unique collection of books we’ve taken bits and pieces from here and there and are still consulting all the time.”

Devin and Leslie originally thought the floor malting technique would be a way to get the business up and running until they could afford to invest in mechanical systems, but the more they used the traditional technique, the more they appreciated how it differentiates the finished product. “We really became much more passionate about floor malting,” says Devin. “There’s a value-added aspect in the sense it is a traditional method; it shows well, and it offers some back story to the product.”“At the same time, the biological process,

the metabolic process, is different when it’s malted on the floor as compared to a pneumatic system, so we create a very distinct product,” he says. “That helps us to maintain a differentiation in the market. It lets us compete with the higher value, specialty products as opposed to competing with the lowest value products.”


“ Eventually, we’d like to get a roasting system so we can do a full range of roasted specialty malts. ”

“ For every specific grain, we have to treat it a little bit differently on the floor, so we can optimize the performance. ”


The back story of each malt Devin and Leslie refer to relates to traceability. The grain used at Barn Owl Malt primarily comes from Prince Edward County, the Bay of Quinte Region, Ottawa, and the Kingston/Napanee area.

Leslie emphasizes the different grains they bring in are always kept separate from each other. “We know the variety of wheat. We know the year that it was grown. We know where it was grown. We know how it was grown. We know who grew it. We

have all those pieces that are otherwise completely unknown when you buy the malt used to make beer. For the local brewers, I think it’s really key information when they’re making a local product. It completes the story to be able to tell where that product came from start to finish.”

She adds, “We design a specific malting recipe based on each grain, each grain’s stream, and we make a malt based on that recipe. The kiln schedule is designed specifically for that as well.”

More than 20 craft breweries use malt made by Barn Owl Malt, including Mackinnon Brothers Brewing Co. in Bath, Ontario. Brothers Ivan and Daniel Mackinnon set up a brewery on their 200-plus-year-old family farm with a vision of making beer using hops, wheat, and barley grown on their own farm. They were thrilled to discover Barn Owl Malt.“We would not be able to do what we

are doing here at our brewery if it wasn’t for Devin and Leslie, and that’s not an


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exaggeration at all,” says Ivan. “When we started in 2014, the next closest malt house was on the other side of Quebec City, so it was not feasible to truck barley out to have it malted. The fact that they are there, and they make really good malt, and they’re willing to work with us to do this custom malting – it allows us to produce a couple of different styles that are 100 per cent from the farm. We were not using any of our own ingredients until they came on line.”

The process of making malt involves three distinct steps over a six to 10-day period. The first step is steeping; hydrating the grain to start it germinating. At Barn Owl Malt, this is done in two large steel tanks. The second step is controlled germination – in Devin and Leslie’s operation, that happens on the floor of the malt house. “During that period, we manage the temperature and availability of fresh air,” says Devin. “That regulates the rate of germination, which is a process involving modifying the starch reserves inside the grain.” While on the floor, Devin and Leslie agitate the bed of grain to keep rootlets from forming and matting up the grain, and to release the heat generated by the malting process.

Says Devin, “Different grains have different behaviour. Even the same variety of barley, for example, from two different growing years, behaves very differently on the floor. For every specific grain, we have to treat it a little bit differently on the floor, so we can optimize the performance. If a grain tends to germinate very aggressively, it will produce more heat, so we may have to turn it more regularly, spread it more thinly, or adjust the moisture content.”

Understanding these nuances of grain behaviour have taken Devin and Leslie time and experimentation. They have a small laboratory in the malt house where they run tests on each new grain source to assess its rate of water uptake and determine the ideal germination time.

The last step in the malting process is drying. At Barn Owl Malt, this is done in a wood-fired kiln Devin designed and built behind the malt house.“The different drying temperatures and

times will affect the flavour profile and the colour profile of the finished product,” says Devin. “There are subtle differences in the first two steps in developing the different products, but the kiln really drives that differentiation of product.”


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“ When we’ve designed our recipes for the products, we’ve intentionally avoided trying to replicate products already on the market. ”Different malts are identified by grain

source (90 per cent of the grain used in beer is barley), and by colour. The various colour extracts of malt are identified by percentages. The higher the percentage, the darker the beer. Says Leslie, “The brewers will use those colours and place their orders based on the goal – what kind of beer they’re trying to produce.”

Adds Devin, “We offer 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and then 10.5 per cent. If a brewer wanted something in-between those numbers, they can blend malts to hit those values.”

Devin and Leslie often get requests for malts made from grains other than barley, including wheat, rye, and even spelt, buckwheat, sunflowers, corn, and oats.

“We have plans to expand our barley malt offerings,” says Devin. “We’re going to put in a smokehouse so we can start doing some smoked malts. Eventually, we’d like to get a roasting system so we can do a full range of roasted specialty malts.”

Leslie notes roasting will really change the colour offerings of their malts. “Right now, with the kiln we have, we can produce malts that would make a light pilsner all the way through to a red amber. Anything darker than that, we wouldn’t be able to produce without a roaster.”

The floor malting also has an impact on the flavour profile of Barn Owl Malt’s products.

“There’s a distinctiveness to the flavour which comes from the floor malting process,” says Devin. “When we’ve designed our recipes for the products, we’ve intentionally avoided trying to replicate products already on the market. We’ve made a very strong effort to create distinct flavour characters so we’re not necessarily substitutable. Then there’s an element of terroir; the growing year affects the profile of the barley and, because we don’t blend, we’re able to work with specific varieties. The genetics of the different varieties affect flavour differently.”“That’s something that’s unique,” he adds.

“Most of the products coming from North American malt houses are blended varieties so you lose appreciation for the subtleties of the different genetics.”

Devin and Leslie also pay close attention to quality control in the malting process. A certain size of grain kernel is also important to ensure it can be properly crushed or ground by the brewers. There’s a screening done by Health Canada laboratories to assess levels of toxin that may be found on the grains. A separate contract laboratory is used to evaluate protein content of the grain, since high protein levels are problematic for brewers.“On our finished product, we work with a

lab based out of New York that does malt analysis,” adds Devin. “That’s where we get

the specifications with respect to extract and colour and enzyme potential.”

Devin and Leslie are the main employees of Barn Owl Malt. They sometimes use Devin’s father as a delivery man to take bags of malt to the breweries, but they prefer to even do the deliveries themselves wherever possible. Says Devin, “It’s a personal touch and it’s an opportunity for the brewers to have direct contact with a maltster. We’ve dealt with some customers who have been in the brewing industry for 30 years and I’m the first maltster they’ve ever met.”“A real part of our value proposition is that

personal relationship with the processors,” he adds. “It lets us address issues. With some of our regular customers, if they want something adjusted one way or another based on the profiles we’re sending them, we can make small changes. I think that’s a nice added value to what we offer.”

Ivan Mackinnon certainly recognizes the value that Barn Owl Malt offers, “No one was really making high quality, Ontario-grown malt before they started. In my opinion, they’re still one of the only ones who are consistently making really good malt. They’ve done a great job of branding and positioning themselves in the market. I think they really hit the nail on the head.”

Little Italy on the Lake

Story by Vic SchukovPhotography by Daniel Vaughan

RRiccardo Cesca, born near Venice in northeastern Italy, manages Terra Estate Winery, a 32-acre piece of heaven nestled on the north shore of Consecon Lake. Cradled by the rolling hills of Prince Edward County, in summer the vineyard is bathed in cool breezes, and in winter

the moderate winds generated by the lake effect insulate it from cold nights.

Riccardo brings something special to the winery, obvious from the moment he greets you with a smile as big as the sun on the porch of the welcome centre. His magnetic personality invariably

sweeps you into his world of imaginative possibilities and zest for life that can only be described as passionate.

Sampling some of the vineyard’s 11 unique vintages, tasters soon become aware of the depth of this of the worldly gentleman. He is genuinely interested in

Riccardo is presently completing his

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County and the winery.


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people – all people – and regales visitors with stories, intertwining his heartfelt love for both wine and the written word.

His business card says Riccardo Cesca, Writer.

“My passion is criminology,” says Riccardo. “When I was a young boy, I watched Columbo with my Dad every week. I started to imagine my future as a writer. When I was four years old, my father bought me a typewriter. Later, I studied medicine but decided it was not

for me. When I told my father I wanted to become a writer, he said, ‘No! You must become a doctor like me.’ There are seven generations of doctors in my family. I broke the chain. My father put up a strong argument, but I won,” he laughed.

Some people – those who have the magical coupling of genuine calling and latent talent – may be self-taught. Riccardo applied himself from a young age to become an accomplished author in his chosen genre.


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“In Italy, I researched the science of investigation and took some criminology courses in the USA and Switzerland, during my travels. I read tons of books on criminal profiling, privately studying such aspects as the psychology of the criminal mind, police techniques, and body language. I became an expert. It all came natural to me because it was a passion of mine. I love it.”

Riccardo uses the word love in most every description of his life’s endeavours. His perseverance landed him a 10-year tenure in an Italian movie company, doing uncredited script work. A few years ago, his intensity of character and curiosity culminated in the completion of his first two detective novels, The Prince in the ice and Profiles of the assassin. Both became best sellers in his native land.“When I tried to sell my first novel as a

movie script, the film company’s producer told me that I would not find work there unless I worked for him,” Riccardo shared

defiantly. “I said good-bye and came to Toronto. I arrived like a classic fictional Italian immigrant with a suitcase and my book under my arm. I knocked on all doors, and finally found an interested American company I thought was small but in fact turned out to be very big with offices in Vancouver and Los Angeles. I hired an agent who is now in negotiations with three companies who want my book. One is Pinewood, another (DNA Entertainment) has lots of studios and produced a part in the King Kong movie.”

He is presently completing his third book of a trilogy, and what better environment than the tranquility of the County and the winery.“While I was in Toronto, I stayed with my

cousin, a businessman. He told me he had a vineyard in the County. He asked me if I would like to help him in the winery. I agreed, knowing I could write there, also. He told me we must have a crew, and I told him

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I have a crew, friends from my home town.”He called his kindred spirits, Sonja

Trenonti and Peter Sosoici and presented an opportunity to spend summers in Canada while helping his cousins. His crew was of the same adventuresome bent as Riccardo.“They agreed in seconds. I brought them over,

and we do everything here. We are a great team of friends. We have a master winemaker who lives in Italy and comes here seasonally to formulate the wine making processes. We don’t accept a paycheque. We follow the wine master’s instructions and enjoy nature. In between making wine which I absolutely love, I write at the table outside or under a tree at the top of the hill, all nice places to write.”

Riccardo is presently waiting for the movie of his first book to be made in Toronto, enjoying the wait in this wonderful place only hours away.“When I first came to the County, I fell in

love with it completely. It is a unique place in the world. People are very kind and generous, and all try to help us. It’s unbelievable. It gives me goosebumps just to say it.”

We have a master

winemaker who

lives in Italy and

comes here

seasonally to

formulate the wine

making processes.


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Terra Estate Winery’s vintages are based on authentic Italian recipes from the old country.“My cousin decided he wanted to make wines

here similar to that of his native land. We use the same techniques. The seeds come from Italy. We leave the wine for longer periods in the tank, using pressure and temperature to modify the bouquet, and we use no chemicals.”

Riccardo is an inexhaustible idea machine with big plans for the estate. “I am a volcano of ideas. I love my mind. It is too much,” he laughed again. “My engine is curiosity. Next

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year, I will build a tasting terrace right on the water. We will make a dock to have boat rides on the lake. Everyone who comes here to visit, we view as friends. That is more important than money. I decided with my cousins every year to try to create one new wine. Cabernet Franc

and Merlot in sparkling is impossible to find. We did it. I am sure you will fall in love with our new Pinot Grigio.”

Yes, he is passionate, and just as he is a writer of characters, he seems to come off the page himself, impossibly likable. Upon first meeting him, you feel you have

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known him all your life. “That is the Italian way,” says Riccardo. “Our motto at Terra Estate Winery is ‘A small taste of Italy.’”

Another part of the grand evolution of the Terra Estate Winery project is their recent acquisition of Emm’s restaurant on Loyalist Highway. They have hired an equally masterful Italian chef who can create everything from breakfast to bruschetta to burgers to beef bresaola. “Their Italian food is authentic,” says Riccardo. “To give an Italian experience, the pomodori (tomatoes) and pasta and mozzarella are all Italiano. Authentic and zesty.” Just like Riccardo.

Arguably, Riccardo’s biggest plan is to settle here permanently. “After I stabilize my life here, I plan to move my wife and two children over. One thing I am sure of, I have fallen in love with Canada and the County and would like to die here. The artist can be strange. I wake up every morning with a smile because I look forward to a new adventure every day. I savour life like wine. I am never tired. I sleep four hours a day, I have plenty of time to sleep when I am gone.”

A small taste

of Italy


On December 15, 1944 Glenn Miller, legendary big-band leader, disappeared over the English Channel, on a flight to entertain U.S. troops in France during the Second World War.

Despite clarity on that point, there is no connection with a unique community along the Trent River just north of Trenton. Glen Miller (first Gordon Mills, then Glen Millar) is named for the river valley it occupies and for one of its founding families.

Despite the map dot on the east side of the Trent just above Highway 401, the community, like the original ink dot, has spread – along both sides of the river. A few older homes provide hints of the early settlement, but most dwellings are modern suburban designs living harmoniously with a sprinkling of businesses.

Glen Miller proves illusive. It does not possess a village centre like other early communities. Glen Miller ‘Welcome’ signs border the western edge of the river, yet Glen Miller Road follows the east bank. Johnstown Road and its bridge seem to offer the closest thing to a centre. Christ Church Anglican (established 1843) still provides a community hub.

For a small community Glen Miller offers a respectable number of superlatives. The Bleasdale Boulder, one of North America’s largest glacial erratics, stands over two storeys tall. The Glen Miller rock was later named for the circa 19th century clergyman who introduced the boulder to the scientific world; it awes visitors in a forested conservation area.

A paper mill has operated in Glen Miller since 1880. One source relates

that Peter Millar arrived from Montreal in the late 1870s, joining forces with the Gordon family, operators of an even earlier (Ford & Gordon 1850) paper mill, which later moved to the present location. The Trent Valley Paper mill, a division of international packaging giant Sonoco still operates at the old Miller Brothers Paper Mill site.

Glen Miller’s $21 million eight-megawatt renewable energy facility began commercial operation in 2005 and was expected to generate enough energy to heat 4,000 homes.

Lock 3 along the Trent Severn waterway operates just north of Johnstown Road at Glen Miller. The Glen Miller lock has a significant lift of 8.2 metres, outdone only by three others, including the behemoths at Peterborough and Kirkfield.

Two Miller homes relate the social history of Glen Miller. A 1990 ACO architectural tour notes the impressive polychromatic brick house, now in use as mill offices, was built in 1878/9 by the Miller family. That source dates the construction of Valley View, a delightfully over-decorated Queen Anne style frame house across the river, to 1880. The brightly painted house with its onion dome, mansard roofed tower, a wealth of verandas and window styles, and exuberant trims sits beside the Glen Miller Conservation Area. A 1984 newspaper reported the 90th birthday of Caroline Louisa Miller, daughter of mill founder Peter Miller, who had lived her entire life in that house by the river.

Not a bad place to spend a life, Glen Miller.

signpostsThe Glen Miller Story

Story and photographyby Lindi Pierce the Glen Miller Story


at h me with ’s alan gratias Peter and Alice Mennacher


at h me with ’s alan gratias Richard and VidaPeter and Alice Mennacher

Photos by Alan Gratias

I have been invited for lunch to celebrate 25 years of Blizzmax, the gallery, studio, and workshop Peter and Alice Mennacher founded in 1993. I set out at noon for the Mennacher residence on a shimmering summer day, this one less sultry than the previous weeks of heat and humidity. I always look forward to the drive to South Bay on Country Road 13, through the forest plunge I call La France, but is actually Grimmond Woods. With bucolic fields and water views along the way, manicured in its sweeping layers of crops and hedges, the route reminds me of genteel English countryside.

It is hard to miss the Mennacher property. It jumps out at you at the road, an imposing dark-stained barn reinvented as Blizzmax, announced

by a stylized bird stencilled on its side. The big pointy bird, painted yellow, is based on one of Peter’s carvings. It can be thought of as the original barn quilt that adorn so many of the County outbuildings today.

Twenty-five years as an art space, in the early days as one of the only galleries in Prince Edward, is an accomplishment. A minimum of four shows a summer represents more than 100 exhibits showcasing artists from across Canada and Europe. Peter and Alice have played hosts to some of the most exciting contemporary shows between Montreal and Toronto.

“Why Blizzmax?” I enquire of the singular name. “’Blizz’ because of the blizzards I first encountered when I came to Montreal to article with a


“For me, art is an effort to justify our lives, to work out

the enigma of human existence.”


law firm,” replies Peter who is German and practiced law in Munich for 20 years. “And ‘max’ because I was a fan of Max Ernst.” The German artist who was a pioneer of the Dada movement and Surrealism has inspired Peter’s art and his approach to life. Peter’s own work encompasses etchings, prints, and most famously, whittling or wood carving. He favours monumental works like the three oversized pieces, Plein soleil, ironwood, and Driftwood curtain that dominate the rear of the Blizzmax barn.

“Quite a shift from law to full time artist,” I observe.

“Not so much,” Peter counters. “My field was tax, law, and the arts, so I met many artists. One of my clients taught me the most difficult of printing techniques, etching.”

Alice, who is dressed in shorts and a blue patterned blouse, beckons us to a veranda overlooking South Bay where a table has been set for lunch. I comment on the offshore wind which delivers a cooling breeze to the covered loggia.

“That’s the reason we bought this place,” Peter says, relaxing in green cargo shorts and a white T-shirt. “I was into surfing and I could ride in front at our shoreline.” I detect an eyeroll from Alice who adds that Peter brought many surf boards from Germany with him when they moved here permanently in 1992. He is not related to the German Hessians who came to the County as Loyalists in the late 18th century, or the Minakers from South Marysburgh, “although my kids were always called Minaker when they were at school in Picton.”

Alice is a Montrealer by birth and education, a Goodfellow whose forebears are Irish and Protestant, and whose family is well known in the lumber business. She graduated from McGill in psychology, and then UBC with a post

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grad degree in architecture. Before she could register as an architect, Peter lured her to live in Munich. They had met on a blind date in Montreal in 1970 and then again in Verona after Peter’s first wife died in a car accident. There was something about the wide-open spaces of Canada they couldn’t resist, and they decided to look for property on a trip back to Montreal. “Germany is too crowded, too bureaucratic, and too expensive,” Peter pronounces. One weekend they found themselves at Adolphustown.

“What’s over there?” Alice asked waiting for the ferry, pointing to the island land mass on the horizon. A few days later they purchased a three-acre waterfront site on South Bay with an abandoned dairy barn. Alice designed a large A-frame style home swimming in light and views and clad it in wide barn-board style wood planks, now gone deep Nantucket grey.

Twenty-five years, and four children later, the house seems too big and they are planning to downsize, but not just yet. More Blizzmax shows to curate, artwork to execute, moose to hunt. Ever hands-on, Alice has designed a smaller abode on land they own on the Lighthall Road, adjacent to the vineyard they pioneered and sold to Lighthall Winery. Insulated concrete form in construction with a small footprint, it is well on its way to completion as a single level home. Maybe a tennis court this time. Both Alice and Peter are keen players. Alice thrives on her forehand and ground strokes while Peter is her aggressive volley-crazy partner.

Peter opens a bottle of a Lighthall sparkling Progression made from Vidal grapes with a second fermentation using the Charmat Method. Lighthall is the only winery in the County using a cement fermentation vessel which allows oxygen to penetrate the tank. The nose is loaded with grapefruit and green apple peel. We toast the fine summer

weather and the exhilaration of living in Prince Edward. Two home-made pizzas oozing cheese and vegetables are served with a mixed green salad.

I had been warned Peter had picked up the habit as a lawyer in Munich of sketching his clients as they talked, but I saw no sketchbook at his side, so carried on with my generous pours of wine.

“For me, art is an effort to justify our lives,” Peter says. “To work out the enigma of human existence.”

A telephone call interrupts our conversation. It is Michael Potters whose first restaurant, Harvest, was located in the nearby village of Milford. He is in the County for a few days and is hoping he and Peter can go fishing later in the afternoon.

Handsome Patrick, a son from Peter’s first marriage, joins us at the table. He is visiting from Toronto where he is reinventing himself in the hospitality and beer business. He is moving on from his past career as a dog walker on the upper East Side in Manhattan. His sister Milli, with a background in human kinetics, also works in Toronto in the medical administration field.

We linger over our wine, marvelling at the changes in the Quinte since the Mennachers first moved here. “Darling, I smell the coffee burning,” Alice says. Peter jumps to his feet.

“She can be bossy,” he laughs as he goes to the kitchen to check.

After the last drop of the sparkling Lighthall, we take a stroll in the garden. I am struck by how well this couple have navigated their lives and their relationship. I ask what secret of a successful marriage they would like to share. “Have fun,” Alice jumps in. Peter stops in front of the towering hollyhocks. “Don’t make big problems,” he says. “In the scheme of things, it’s all manageable.”

Gail Harvey is an award-winning television and film director whose latest feature film, the thriller never saw it coming, was written by County resident Linwood Barclay, based on his novel. It was recently nominated for Best World Showcase Feature Film at the Soho International Film Festival in New York.

Her documentary film about musician Rickie Lee Jones, entitled The other side of Desi, premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in London, England in 2016. Gail’s feature film Looking is The original sin won best international feature at the New York International Film Festival. At the Female Eye Film Festival, Gail was awarded Honorary Director, Best in the Biz award for 2014.

She is currently directing the new Netflix/CBC show northern Rescue, starring Billy Baldwin, and has directed television shows for Private Eyes, Dark Matter, heartland, lost Girl, Republic of Doyle, and Murdoch Mysteries, as well as directing all episodes of HBO’s The line, and Four Extraordinary Women and home by christmas movies for Lifetime Network.

When she first worked in film as a photographer, she was hired on a CBC show Dieppe which was shot in the County and fell in love with the area. “My hobby became staying at Isaiah Tubbs and looking at real estate. I bought my place 18 years ago when vineyards were only a dream.”

One last question, I plead. “What secret to a successful marriage would Gail like to share.”

“I don’t know the answer to that,” she replied, “I haven’t figured out the secret yet.”

Sa itarg’SG r a v i t a s Q u o t i e n tG r a v i t a s Q u o t i e n t i s a m e a s u r e o f o n e ’ s r e s e r v e s o f i n n e r w i s d o m .

Name one universal rule of friendship?Speak the truth. What are you going to do about growing old?I’m going to keep busy and learning new things and having new adventures.

What makes your heart stand still?The love for my children.

If you knew the truth, how would you reveal it?Bluntly.

We all hope there will be one more time. One more time for what?To see my parents.

If you were going to launch a new prohibition, what would you outlaw? Racism, homophobia, war, meanness.

How would you like to rewire your brain? I would like to try not to be so bossy – works in my job but not so great in my personal life.

If you were to ask for divine intervention, what would it be for? For my children to be eternally happy.

What are you fatally attracted to?Miss Vickie’s potato chips.

Give one example of life’s absurdities?That there is no answer to why we are here.

Why do we sometimes crave chaos? It is familiar to some people.

How do you stay clear of the rocks and shoals?Be mindful.

Why should we hang onto our illusions? I am an optimist and try to find something good or a lesson in everything that happens. If that is an illusion I am keeping it.

What would your father make of you now? My father would be so proud of me.

When do reality and fantasy merge?In the magic of creating art.

What is the best way to get licensed as an adult?Face reality and don’t bullshit yourself.

What do you wish you understood about the workings of the universe?Where people go when they die.

How do we get to the authentic self?Keep chipping away.

How are you different from the way others perceive you?I am not as strong as everyone thinks.

About Gail

Director Gail Harvey answers 19 Gravitas questions with alan Gratias

Discover your Gravitas Quotient at www.gravitasthegame.com

By Alan Gratias

Phot

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Start with us to create your kitchen.

Here at Timber Top, we're

excited to announce that we've

added a full line of kitchen

and bath cabinetry—all in

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room, and to discuss what

kitchen is right for you. We can

help you with new kitchens or

kitchen renovations, vanities,

backsplashes and more.

Then take home style cooking

to a whole new level with the

warmth and charm of Elmira's

vintage-inspired antique

appliances in your own

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autumn 2018...autumn 2018 prince edward county and quinte region inside: native plants make a fuller...

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