As told by Graham Sayers of SuperCider Me and Chesterfields Homegrown Cafè.
So far my quest to drink The County Cider Co. cider everyday is going slicker than a greased pig. Considering I was buying a pig in a poke when I started, I am happier than a pig in mud with the momentum this project is gaining. I would be a pig`s arse to think that I could live on cider alone and there can be no greater food than the almighty swine. Our mission at Chesterfields Homegrown Cafè is to source local ingredients whenever possible, and our search for the perfect pig has led us to Lino Micheli and Manuela Pin of Bethel Organics. Besides raising chickens and ducks and growing organic vegetables, these Accidental Farmers are helping re-introduce a heritage breed of pig called the Berkshire. Once plentiful in Prince Edward County, these early-maturing pigs were brought here from Britain, and prized for their flavour and tenderness. There was a time not long ago when you could find dozens of breeds of pig, chicken and cow, each with different attributes bred for the farmers` specific needs. Bethel Organics and many other County farmers sweat like pigs trying to bring these rare breeds back. To honour this noble undertaking, I have been documenting the pigs` life-cycle online on a page I call The Life Of PI-G.
My wife is not so fond of keeping pets, and I know pigs will fly before I ever raise my own bacon for the restaurant. Luckily, we can buy 2 of the Berkshire pigs Lino is raising at Bethel Organics and everyone`s happy as a dead pig in the sunshine. More pork on the menu at Chesterfields? We intend to use everything but the squeal. It`s field-to-table for the hardcore, rated R for Real!
I hope I`m not casting my pearls before the swine here, but I am going to be high on the hog eating juicy homegrown pork with my crisp county cider.
Tags: Bethel Organics, chesterfields, graham sayers, Prince Edward County, Super Cider Me, The County Cider Company Estate Winery
Comments (1) | Posted over a year ago by Graham Sayers
As told by Graham Sayers of SuperCider Me and Chesterfields Homegrown Cafe.
Since I started my quest to drink The County Cider Co. cider every day for a whole year, many people have asked if I’ve had my health evaluated. (I’m not talking about my mental health here – that is a whole other blog). It is a fair question, though, and until this week I didn’t have a legitimate answer. Living in the County, it is comforting to know that even when I’m not always paying attention to my health, there are people like Valery Philip who are. Valery is leading the charge to bring real food and nutrition into our lives in a positive way. Her approach to health and well-being encompasses not just diet but also lifestyle, and shows her clients how to balance them both in a way that fits the individual. What makes Valery unique in the County is that she teaches Yoga, educates about proper nutrition and provides aromatherapy massage. It’s your one-stop live naturally shop. Say a person who has been drinking cider for 100 days has some questions about his liver- Valery Philip is the one to call!
I felt it important to get the full living naturally experience, so I drank a cider and booked myself an aromatherapy massage. I went for a morning session at Valery’s wellness centre in Bloomfield, and as soon as I arrived I felt an instant calm come over me. The peaceful surroundings, mellow music and sweet smells in the air all helped to relax me, which was important as I knew I would soon be naked in a room with a woman who is not my wife. The biggest difference between this experience and past massages was that Valery took the time to find out about me and my lifestyle. Her focus wasn’t just on giving me a massage, but how this massage could improve my overall health. She then mixed an orange-scented oil for me and proceeded to give me the best massage of my life. Oh, and my liver is fine, my skin is “beautiful” and I feel like a million ciders.
Tags: Bloomfield, chesterfields, graham sayers, Super Cider Me, The County Cider Company Estate Winery, Valery Philip, Valery Phillip living naturally
Comments (0) | Posted over a year ago by Graham Sayers
As told by Graham Sayers of SuperCider Me and Chesterfields Homegrown Cafè.
As I near day 100 of Supercider Me, I reflect on what possessed me to do such a thing and why I thought anyone would care. Well the answer is simple: I am a part of an amazing community which inspires me to take risks, lets me be different, and supports my vision. That, in the skin of an apple, is why my family has made Prince Edward County our home.
Some of the County’s most unique characters were brought together by the call of fermented apples this past weekend as The County Cider Co. in Waupoos hosted a cider party – and oh what a party it was.
The cider flowed freely all night courtesy of Cider Co. owners Grant and Jen, which certainly helped make the night memorable (if a little blurry), but it was the creative energy of the people in attendance that made the event great. As I strolled around the party (perched high above Lake Ontario) I was blown away by the diversity of people and their respective creative callings. Among those present were the owners; employees and families of Kelly’s Store; Angeline’s Restaurant; Polepics; Scout Design; Vicki’s Veggies; Shattered Studio; Lo-Fi Consulting; Nine Mile; Karlo Estates; The Galloping Goat; Honey Pie Hives and Herbals; Bethel Organics; Small Pond Arts; Michael Grills Photography; the Economic Development Office; 7th Town Alpaca Ranch; Primitive Cuisine; The Painted Peppercorn; The Old Third Vineyard; The Common Cafe; as well as our Green Party representative Treat Hull; Downie, the sales guy; Peter and Cassie, bagpipers; myself and my wife Vicky, of Chesterfields Homegrown Cafè; and of course the heart of the County and biggest SuperCider Me supporter, Tammy Thompson whose birthday was being celebrated.
Whether we arrived in the County more or less recently, we are cultivating a sense of pride in our community with what we each bring to it. We want these relationships to continue to ripen so we can share our love of life and really great cider with the rest of the world.
Tags: Angeline's Restaurant, chesterfields, Kelly's Store, Pole Pics, Scout Design, Super Cider Me, The County Cider Company Estate Winery
Comments (3) | Posted over a year ago by Graham Sayers
