The Rural Voice, 1993-06, Page 22i444
BLYTH FESTIVAL_
Don't Just Come for Great Canadian Theatre!!!
In a small village just 45 minutes north west of
Stratford, the Blyth Festival enters its 19th season
of producing the best in New Canadian Plays.
Blyth premieres have been produced across the
country, adapted for film and television, and
translated for foreign audiences.
But don't just come for the theatre - rediscover
Huron County. We've got some of the best deals
on restaurants, accommodations and attractions in
Ontario, not to mention beautiful countryside and
magnificent sandy beaches.
Call (519)523-9300 to receive a free copy of the
Blyth Festival 1993 Season Brochure
& Guide to Huron County.
BOX OFFICE (519)523-9300
June 8 to September 11,1993
Many Hands by Dale Hamilton The Old Man's Band by John Roby
Ceili House by Colleen Curran Web by Rosalind Goldsmith
Safe Haven by Mary -Colin Chisholm The Glorious 12th by Raymond Storey
18 THE RURAL VOICE
involved in helping save other rare
breeds of sheep and chickens in the
future.
The rare cattle are part of the
education process for guests. A farm
home is a natural place for consumer
education, Barb says. "You'd be
amazed what you absorb in a
comfortable home setting."
Much of the education comes
naturally, through questions and
answers about what the guests see
going on around them. "You have to
want to answer questions, that's for
sure," Brian says with a wry smile.
But seeing what fascinates city
people helps keep up the Markles'
interest in what they're doing on the
farm.
Urbanites can leave the farm with
changed impressions. One other farm
vacation host had a guest who was an
animal activist who went home with a
considerably different view about
animals on farms, Barb says.
Running a farm vacation home
must be a partnership, Barb says.
Brian helps out when necessary to
cook breakfast for the guests while
she might take a turn going to the
barn. "If one person is left doing it
all, it can get very discouraging."
Brimstock is a partnership in other
ways with both Markles adding their
own strengths to the mix. "I love the
people side and I always loved
animals," Barb says. "Brian is the
farm manager." Barbara does the
promotion for their enterprise and
keeps the books. Even the neighbours
play a part in making guests feel at
home. "Our neighbours are a big part
of why we love it here," Barb says.
Many of the guests seem to have
liked the experience because they're
coming back. "We're really quite
thrilled about repeat visitors," Barb
says. Brian adds that now, in their
fourth season, they're just beginning
to see a lot of repeat visitors because
at first it's slow going in attracting
guests. Barb agrees. "If you're
looking for monetary gain in the first
year, you'll be disappointed," she
says. But each year business has
increased by leaps and bounds.
For the Markles, having guests
around the house has been pure
pleasure. In four years, Barb says,
they've never had a bad experience
with a guest. They've proven that
both Brian's dream of being a farmer
and Barb's dream of hosting guests
can come true.0