Mark Bowering just might have the most perfect working conditions possible and as we stand in his Walsh’s Farm ‘office’  – a brilliantly sun-lit field in Colliers – he takes a moment to appreciate what a great summer it’s been for anyone in the business of growing blueberries. 

“The berries, they seem to do really good in the heat. They like it. And we always notice around big rocks that hold heat from the sun, the berries around them are some of the best,” he said. 

“It’s easy to be grateful for the heat when cold can cost so much,” he added. “You can lose your whole season in a frost in June. The plants are coming to flower in June and that actually happened here two years ago with a late frost,” he said.

Bowering, as president at Bowering Gardens – a landscaping company – and co-owner of Walsh’s Blueberry Farms, spends a nice bit of time outdoors and he appreciates every minute. 

The many berry-pickers Bowering employs seem to be enjoying their day in the great Newfoundland outdoors as well. We meet Vince Wade who has been picking berries for profit since he was eight years-old. 

Bren Bartlett, who shows off his berry-stained hands, has been picking for over 35 years. Chris England – famous for being both speedy and efficient – uses a two-handed method. “Been doing this for over 25 years and I loves being out picking berries,” England said. 

Helpful bees

There’s much to brag about when it comes to Newfoundland berries. The thicker skin – believed to be designed by nature as a way to protect the berry from the elements – is possibly the reason why locally grown blueberries are ‘the berry best’ tasting and the best for us, especially when it comes to their antioxidant value. 

No pesticides are used as none are required in this province. 

The plants require no watering and they need no other tending besides controlled field burning which is on a rotational schedule and keeps the low-bush blueberry plants healthy and improves yield.  We visit the resident bees on site and Bowering explains how their presence has been helpful.

“We’ve been using bees to try and experiment with pollination … to up our yields a bit. They’re just been doing fantastic out there and seem to be loving it,” he said.

Berry pickers

One fun bee/berry fact?  Bees who thrive around blueberry bushes make a pretty amazing blueberry honey. “The honey that they make from the nectar that they collect at the time of flowering is thicker than regular wildflower only honey,” he said. 

We watch the many pickers do their thing as we enjoy the sunshine – and the berries around us. Bowering smiled.  

“Some of these berry pickers here on this farm have been here for over 30 or 40 years. Some of the same people return and a lot of them are locals. It’s amazing to watch them work. One picker could pick anywhere around  450 pounds a day depending on how thick the berries are and their experience.” 

Who’s their clients? Blueberry pie making nannies? Bowering laughed. 

“Wine makers, beer makers, restaurants, supermarkets. We mostly do bulk sales for businesses but we also do online sales to locals. You can have delivery or arrange for pick-up.”

As for how he enjoys his berries best? “In oatmeal,” he answered.  Bowering shared that when he was first asked to get into the berry business five years ago, he stood on the same field we were standing in and saw nothing but grass and woods. 

“I just saw fields of grass. I’m like, ‘Where’s the berries?’ I didn’t see it because when you look in, it’s just all grass and how can there be berries?”

But he looked down and finally saw the potential.  “When you get out on the field and you finally see the sea of blue you’re in, it’s just amazing.” 

For more visit walshsfarms.com 

I knew we were onto something that very first adventure of 2022. Meeting Courtney and Terrence of Grates Cove Studios and Seven Fathom – a seaweed based skin care line – set the tone for the many adventures that followed. 

The two seaweed/rural Newfoundland enthusiasts – one a local and one a come from away – shared their combined passions of place and an early lifetime of adventure with others through their many business endeavours. From a restaurant that serves creative cuisine to many skin care products based on the stuff that makes many go ‘ewww’ while navigating a dip in the ocean’s waves, these two showcasing the art of being creative.

Kristy Sweet of Catalina created Roy’s Lighthouse Retreat in honour of her beloved father. Designed to look exactly like a lighthouse, this vacation home is a sea-side treasure. Brilliantly beautiful, the retreat is built on land purchased by Sweet’s late father decades before for $500. To see what’s there now, you’d say it’s priceless. Perfect down to the last detail, Sweet admits she isn’t a designer. ‘’I knew what I wanted and I guess I asked the right people to help me and it came together in honour of my dad and his family’s lighthouse legacy,’’ she said.

But there’s many like her who have let their passions guide them through life and their visions now provide peace and tranquility to others. 

The folks who offer adventurous zip lining through the wilds of Petty Harbour obviously love what they do. Their occupation is more occupassion than anything and Phil Smith leads a team of equal-minded young people who instinctively know that emitting courage and strength with a good dose of humour is most motivating. 

Through adversity

One visit to Frozen in Time Winery will show you what preservation through adversity – like a loved one’s cancer diagnoses – can accomplish when you have the right team around. Likewise, Margie’s Place by the Pond in Placentia has a touching and personal story behind its creation. The loss of a beloved sibling can be a strong motivator in life. Luckily, that love and devotion can now be shared with others. 

Wendy and Danny at Iceberg Alley B&B in Twillingate made Newfoundland home (home again for Danny, new home for come from away Wendy) and now retirement looks very different than originally planned as their day’s work is now caring for others and sharing their love and passion of rural Newfoundland.

Kevin and Denise Moss at Sandy Cove Cabins are the same. With roots in the area, showing off the beautiful beaches in the Eastport region has become their gift to others. No toil for these two when it comes to greeting guests with a smile. 

Chris and Karen Ricketts of Round Da Bay Inn just might have a story that will take decades to tell. 

From their first meeting to today, these two are much more than a couple operating perhaps one of the most creative Inns around. 

With themed rooms – from Nan’s Attic to Captain’s Quarters – it’s a head turner of a spot, but the real head spinner is this tireless couple who do everything from wait tables to entertaining (and a most adopting) guests. 

In their spare time they sponsor refugees while also refurbishing a church. Ashley Hann, the brainchild behind Humber River Off Grid Tours, is one dynamo of a young lady. 

Energetic and passionate about keeping summer the way it used to be – with loads of time spent outside catching frogs and gulping in fresh air – Hann knows that the most treasured times are the ones spent off electronic devises while embracing Mother Nature. 

Many a Newfoundlander and Labradorian have a story to share. These are but a few of the tales from some of the incredibly inspirational people we have happened across so far this summer. 

More treasured tales to follow. Stay tuned.

The movie-star-like personality that was the late Geoff Stirling often philosophized that we are stars and producers of our own movie: life. 

That we get a staring role and have the privilege of dictating the direction of our own destiny is a simple yet brilliant way to look at life’s trajectory. 

As I’ve travelled around the province this summer I’ve encountered many people, and the happiest and most successful spiritually and otherwise are without question those who have followed their own path and the road less travelled instead of taking direction from others.

The stories have given me chills. The way people have met to become lifelong partners is but one incredible tale I’ve enjoyed hearing. Chris and Karen Ricketts of Round Da Bay Inn in Plate Cove West are but one example. Their love story involves – of all things – a  dinky collection. 

A random encounter of those two beautiful souls has led to a life of giving joy and hope to others. It’s dramatic, it’s a love story, and at times it’s a comedy, all rolled into one life story worth the watch. Charlie and Anna also lived  a life worthy of an award or two in the telling alone. Charlie and Anna were married longer than most people live. From Ontario, the couple had visited Newfoundland a time to two and felt a connection to this place. 

Towards the end of her days, Anna was living with dementia. Charlie, the love of her life, cared for his darling treasure even into his mid 90s. 

Before she passed, in one last moment of clarity, Anna asked to be taken back to Newfoundland, back to a place around the bay where she had met beautiful people and heard beautiful music. 

Charlie returned to this province after her death – packing a lifetime into a few boxes – and in honour of his late Anna, he now calls this province home. Charlie makes blueberry pies and lends a hand to neighbours in need and runs errands for busy friends – All at 96 years of age. There’s Pamela at Marble Inn & Suites who provides her spa services to others with quality, care and compassion. Her story of bravery – of moving here from away and following her heart and passion – is more than uplifting.  

There’s a long awaited family reunion we happened upon in Keels that included a 65th birthday celebration, a yarn about a charmingly named boat that left us spellbound in Salvage and two mothers in Catalina whose drive and passion should be a must-see movie for any young lady in need of motivation. 

Lighthouses in honour of dear old dad and vintage homes designed to delight – these woman share their gifts with others one night at a time. From tales of adventure – like a thirty pound salmon landing – to musicians following their dreams on the road –  it’s been a summer filled with stories worthy of retelling.  Fires in central leading to on-the-fly changes in plans have led to adventures of a lifetime. 

For someone who loves to capture and share other’s stories, it’s been one blockbuster summer filled with movie-worthy moments and super stars and it’s my honour to share as many of those yarns as I can with our readers.

Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, can be reached by emailing pghent@nfldherald.com

Gillian Phillips is the director of The Trinity Market – George Street’s only local market. The Trinity Market happens every second Sunday afternoon from 12-5pm at the Trinity Pub located on George Street in downtown St. John’s. 

“We kicked off our market again this weekend (catch them Aug. 21, Sept. 4th & again on Sept. 18th) after a very long wait, and starting up the Market again earlier this summer was great and we couldn’t be happier,” Phillips said. 

Phillips, who owns Gingerly Bakery, can be found there on market days selling her incredible and yummy plant-based treats. 

In its third summer, the market was started in 2020 in an effort to connect the growing tourism base on the island with home-based business owners themselves right in the heart of downtown St. John’s. 

“We wanted to showcase local businesses all over the island who may not have an opportunity to sell their products in other places or at other markets. This market rotates its vendors and features a different lineup every event, ensuring everyone a fair chance to sell their goods. We wanted to bring the beautiful artisans of this province into the heart of downtown and have done so successfully,” she said.

A wide variety

The Trinity Market started just a month before the pandemic. Despite travel restrictions and decreasing numbers in tourism, the energetic crew of vendors continued to operate. 

“With the addition of the pedestrian mall and the foot traffic in the downtown core, we saw an incredible amount of visitors and vendors were able to prosper from this alone,” she continued. 

“This year we have received hundreds of applications from small businesses island wide seeking a place to sell their products. Many of us have lost store fronts, or downsized our businesses during the pandemic. Many have turned to online forums to sell products, therefore we were eager to be able to sell face to face again.”

With a large number of cruise ships visiting this summer – a major reason for choosing their market location – Phillips shared that things have turned around. 

“Oftentimes these tourists do not have time to go to St. John’s Farmers’ Market, and they have only a few hours to explore downtown. The Trinity Market offers a space for these tourists to shop for souvenirs and purchase directly from the maker.”  

The Trinity Market has a wide variety of vendors from hand crafted items, knits, jewelery, baked goods, art, clothing and with hot food vendors on site and great specials on drinks and beer all day, it’s a great way to spend some time. Plus, it’s a family friendly market. “We even welcome dogs, with The Trinity Pub having one of the only pet friendly patios in the city. We aim to be a friendly and inclusive space for all to enjoy.” 

Help spread the word about this community event, or better yet, visit them in person or online @trinitymarketongeorge and on Instagram @the.trinitymarket

So far this summer, The Newfoundland Herald has had the divine pleasure of staying in and visiting some spectacular establishments. From dinners and delights in a barn-like setting in Green’s Harbour to cod tongues devoured in Dildo, this has been a staycation summer to remember. 

In this special tourism feature in our commemorative Herald edition that celebrates Elvis, we thought we’d highlight a few spots that left us “all shook up” from excitement visiting with some tourism folks who make each stay and experience with them feel like the most incredible warm hug! 

Iceberg Alley B&B ~ Twillingate

Danny and Wendy Andrews, the owners of Iceberg Alley B&B, have tourism down to an art. First of all, Twillingate is one of the top tourist destinations in the province and Iceberg Alley is one of the most spectacular looking premises in the area. 

From the outside eye-catching architecture and the what-dreams-are-made-of deck to the warm and fuzzy hand-knit slippers that await each guest upon entry, this is a stop-over to add to any staycation bucket list. Wendy and Danny are proud of their B&B (rightfully so!), but they’re also filled with passion about the history of their property. 

Built on the foundation of the old Salvation Army Church, Iceberg Alley boasts eight spectacular room names that pays tribute to the regions nautical roots.

The Dory, Dingy, Rodney, Schooner, Punt and more each equally delight any guest who is lucky enough to stay. But Iceberg isn’t the only property these two welcome come from aways and locals alike in! Andrews by the Sea in Blow-Me-Down is also a passion project of this dynamic duo. So what is it about Twillingate that draws tourists in? It’s the place and the people, they share. 

“It’s the beauty of everything that gets the interest. When people come here it’s because they have an intent of coming here because it’s not right off of the Trans-Canada Highway. It’s out of your way,” Danny said. “People that come here, they’ve heard about it, they’ve seen something on it. And tourists come a long way to get here,” he added. 

Wendy smiles. “And don’t just come for a day either,” she warned. 

Why not? Simply because there’s so much to see and do and to love about the region! And a stay with Wendy and Danny at Iceberg is the perfect place for an extended stay. “For the last few years, people have been going to cabins and cottages to avoid others because of the need for staying in our bubbles,” Wendy said.  

But now? People are “starving” for contact with others, and a stay in a Bed & Breakfast is the perfect cure-all, she added. “When people come in they know Danny and I are glad to see them and we are thrilled to have them back or to have them visit for the first time. It’s like getting a great big warm hug when you stay in a Bed & Breakfast, and we pride ourselves on being great huggers!”

For more pick up next week’s NL Herald or visit icebergalley.squarespace.com 

For staycationers and come from aways alike, Conception Bay North, Trinity Bay and the Baccalieu Trail region of the province of Newfoundland & Labrador offers just a little something extra for anyone looking to get away from it all while remaining a short hop-skip-and-a-jump away from city livin’. 

In this special Come Home Year 2022 Discovering ‘Ome feature, we look at a few unique options when it comes to escaping the everyday.  

LOBSTER PODS

It’s difficult to believe this spot exists, but take a little drive into South River and there’s a treasure to uncover: lobster pot shaped tiny – yet incredibly efficient – cabins nestled into the most quaint wooded area. It might seem like the middle of nowhere, yet it’s minutes from civilization – a great spot to rest while exploring the region. Visit Brigus and dine at The Quay Restaurant before returning for an evening nightcap by the fire or head out for a swim and some beach sunning at Salmon Cove before returning for a cozy shower and a late afternoon siesta – whatever your pleasure, it’s mere minutes from the most delightful home base: one of two brilliantly designed Lobster Pods! 

On the day we discover these so-called Lobster Pods, the sun is beating down and the well-manicure yard invites one and all to immediately take part in a somewhat friendly cornhole toss competition. Owner Tyler Evans explained to The Herald that he launched his two Pods in the summer of 2020. 

“It was that first COVID summer and it was scary, but the concept was definitely well-received,” he began.

There are times when confusion pops up, he added with a chuckle. The Pods are “tiny homes” with an emphasis on tiny. 

“You almost have to see it to understand that there’s one space with everything in there that you’d need. It’s glamping, so camping taken up a notch,” he continued.

With showers and bathroom facilities uniquely tucked in well-designed corners, and comfy beds and a cooking/living space, these Lobster Pods have everything one would need for a get-away-from-it-all getaway, but one of the best features is the outside space. Dog and kid friendly, life in a Lobster Pod feeds like a nature-lovers dream come true. 

“It’s a very good location on Hodgewater Line and even though there’s traffic at times, it really doesn’t feel like it. The trees are very tall and it’s very secluded.”

The Pods are literally shaped like a lobster pot, and the two Evans owns were from a design that has origins in the United Kingdom, but were built in Quebec and shipped to NL.  With two unique designs, Evans says there’s a Pod to suit any need.

“With families coming in, it’s great when people who know one another rent the pods as a group. There’s loads of space to do your own thing and have your own quiet time, but there’s great shared space possibilities there too,” he said.

Last year was a very busy summer with July and August being near capacity, and Evans is hoping for the same this summer. 

“The Blueberry Festival is back and we are minutes from Brigus, so that’s hopefully a busy time for us,” he said.

 Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co. is down  the road as well, and that’s been a draw for staycationers and visitors as well, he added. Evans – who spent the day before we arrived building the Pods latest fire pits – admits there’s many who are simply curious to check out his Lobster Pod venture. “People are excited to check it out. It’s definitely a word of mouth type of thing.”

For more, check out Lobster Pods on Facebook

The Quay & Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co.

Dave Collins, owner/operator of The Quay restaurant in Brigus and Mark Burry, entrepreneur/managing Director of Baccalieu Trail Brewing Company Ltd., a microbrewery located in Bay Roberts, have a very unique friendship formed. 

What started as a mutual respect and admiration of one another’s offerings has turned into a business partnership. The two have collaborated on a new beer – an Irish Red available in their ‘Grab 4 and Explore’ pack that’s a must pick-up for any beer lover, but there’s more to this relationship as well. Many of The Quay’s amazing food offerings – from their best ever tasted hand-cut fries or their brilliantly designed charcuterie jars, to their decades famous cod chowder – are now available at the brewery, and Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co.’s beers are ready to be enjoyed at The Quay – a win-win for everyone, especially customers!   

On the day we visit The Quay, we dig in. One of the many wins? Their  crab cakes, which come with a delightful  and touching story. But first, a little history. 

“The original part of the building here was built in 1920, and it was the Bank of Nova Scotia and it closed in the 60s and the Hiscock family purchased the property and they were fish merchants,” Collins began. 

Eventually one of the brothers, Dave Hiscock and his wife Joan, decided to open the Country Corner Cafe and Gift Shop, he continued. 

The couple sold it in 2015 to another couple from Brigus who operated it until 2000. “That’s when we acquired it, and we upscaled the decor inside and out and did the same with the menu, but we keep some of the favourite dishes, like the cod chowder and the blueberry crisp – those recipes I say I inherited,” Collins said with a smile. 

Another bonus he says he inherited? Some really great staff, and that was very important, he continued.

 “We’ve been operating The Quay now for a year and a half and we’ve been lucky to maintain customers who have been coming here for 30 years. We’ve certainly attracted a new clientele as well by adding craft beer to the menu, and we’re getting a very broad demographic coming to the restaurant to check us out,” he added. 

For the most part, he added, “People really like what we’re doing and the feedback has been great.”

Collins admits he never really had a dream to own a restaurant, though he admits to being ‘a foodie.’     

For more on The Quay and Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co., pick up next week’s NL Herald! Plus, we visit The Doctor’s House Inn & Spa and meet Monty, the colour-changing Newfoundland Pony, and we drop into Iceberg Alley B&B! 

PERCHANCE THEATRE

Historic Cupids, where Canada’s first English colony was founded, has a professional classic theatre you won’t want to miss. 

The intimate open-air theatre, modeled on Elizabethan playhouses from back in Shakespeare’s day, was listed as one of the top six most unique ways to experience Shakespeare in Canada.   

For tickets and show times visit perchancetheatre.com

OCEAN DELIGHT

Laurelyn Berry literally has the ocean as the backdrop for everything she does. 

Not one to keep such a view or lifestyle to herself, she’s opened year round ocean front property cottages, aptly named Ocean Delight Cottages, in Whiteway and Long Point cove, Heart’s Delight-Islington. Tastefully decorated, these 4.5 star luxury oceanfront cottages offer everything one would need for the perfect getaway. 

 Stunning views – sunsets over the ocean included – and secluded fire pits that beg for roasting marshmallows or toasting with a beverage after a long day relaxing. Barbecue on the deck, watch the sunset, take a hike along the water’s edge; or simply enjoy the view. 

A short jaunt from Pitcher’s Pond Golf Course, and with hiking, swimming, restaurants, spa services at The Doctor’s House Inn and Spa and scenic driving tours through nearby Dildo, it’s a sure bet for any traveler, shared Berry.  

“The best part is that I get the chance to meet some amazing people, and in that way, this never seems like work.”

For more visit oceandelightcottages.com

Glamping is a new fad sweeping the globe for outdoor enthusiasts that want a little bit extra, one that is taking over the province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Travel restrictions in Newfoundland have prevented people from vacationing. Some have looked to vacation from home in the form of “glamping.”

Glamping is a new trend that mixes glamour with camping. Generally, glamp sites are set up as an above-ground platform with a tent over the top of it. These sites include necessities like a bed and a stove with cookware. There are several glamping sites set up around the province, such as at Humber River or Gros Morne National Park. 

Ashley Hann is the owner and operator of the Humber River Off Grid Tours. Hann was one of the first to set up glamping tents for the public over five years ago.

“When I went camping as a kid, you had a little tent that you stuck in the ground and slept there,” said Hann. “With glamping, you can go camping without the hassle, without the packing, and just come in and go camping. All you have to bring is yourself and your food.”

Hann was first encouraged to open a glamping site by friends that she had met in the tourism industry, who shared she was living in a great location for tourism. “At the time, glamping was very new to the province, so I wanted to try that,” Hann said. “When I started, there were only one or two sites on the island. Now, they are popping up everywhere.”

With such a level of comfort added, is it possible that glamping takes away from the traditional camping experience? The traditional experience of camping is having to work with what you have. With such luxuries at the camper’s disposal, the experience no longer feels like “roughing it.”

TA Loeffler is a professor of outdoor recreation and education at Memorial University and a well experienced adventurer. “I spend as much time outside as possible,” said Loeffler. “Some years I probably camp about 150 nights!”

Loeffler is no stranger to the concept of glamping, and she thinks it is a completely authentic experience.

‘Eye of the beholder’

“I would say that camping is in the eye of the beholder,” Loeffler said. “You can still hear nature and see nature. If glamping helps to get someone outside in nature and enjoying a time away from home, I’m all for it.”

Don Clarke, a director of sales and communications at Outfitters, has noticed a rise is business in his store. “Business has been very steady. With the start of COVID, it just made the opportunity for new people to get outdoors and camp increase. Outdoor activities are social distancing and isolation at their finest,” shared Clarke, adding, “At its core, you’re getting outside and disconnecting from your everyday life. You’re still reconnecting with nature and your environment.”

With two glamping tents set up and a rise in popularity, Hann is excited for the future. “It’s the exact same thing as camping, you just have more comfort,” Hann said. “You’re still roasting s’mores, you’re still in the wilderness, and you’re still getting all the scenery of the outdoors. It’s just in a more comfortable space.”

The day was dreary, but the sight was delightful: an adorable beach hut tucked away on the edge of the ocean. We had arrived at A Little Cup of Sea in Colliers. 

A fire lured a welcome – as did a spot of tea and the most delightful ‘waffeltons” (a cross between a waffle and a tradition NL touton) and owner Lacey Pike popped in for a welcoming greeting, picnic basket in hand with warmed waffeltons wrapped lovingly inside.

Stop for a moment

Pike, who just happens to be the deputy mayor of Colliers and a dotting mom to adorable son Finley, shared where the inspiration for her business came from.

“Part of the reason for moving home from Calgary after 15 years away was having Finley. Chris (her husband/Finley’s father) and I stopped for a moment and took stock of what we wanted life to look like going forward and we decided that we wanted it to slow down, we wanted to be closer to family, and we wanted Finley to grow up on island like we both did, with lots of space to explore and the ocean at his doorstep.”

They’ve done that and then some – and now they share that sea-at-your-fingertips experience with others.  

Part of dreaming up a business that could exist on their own property was something that would enable Pike to continue to be their son’s “stay at home mama.”  “Even when he starts school I will not only drop him off in the morning but I’ll also be there standing outside to take him home when the school day ends,” she said proudly. 

Love for the ocean

“The other part was sharing my love for the ocean, and creating a space to help others to stop for a moment. I wanted everyone to be able to stop and be in the moment, to offer a place to catch their breath, take a deep breath and relax year round,” she said.

Their adorable Little Cup of Sea has grown – mostly by word of mouth!  

“Originally the hut was just a little addition to the paddleboard and kayak rentals in the summer but the hut’s popularity has grown, and fast. I’m absolutely floored how well its being received.”

There’s been engagements, couples looking for a romantic spot to just relax, sisters, friends, and moms have come to wrap presents or to bond over tea and the tide!  “People are gifting beach hut time to their loved ones, patrons are booking multiple visits.  I’ve received some lovely heartfelt messages from guests about what the time in the hut has meant for them,” she said proudly.

Her early vision for the business plan was to offer a place to help people slow down and savour their lives.

“A Little Cup of Sea is a nouvelle vague tourism operation whose mission is to calm and nurture souls through a unique combination of environment and connection with nature through activity – one paddle, one cup of tea, one rainy seaside day at a time,” she said.  

For her, the passion for sea down-time began at a young age and it never left, in fact a childhood friend sent Pike a copy of a poem she had written while in grade four. 

Pike smiled at the memory. 

“I remember that visit to the beach in Bottle Cove. I’ve always loved spending time in the landwash. I’m in the processes of having a painting created of Bottle Cove that I’m going to add into the beach hut collection with a copy of that childhood poem to remind myself of why we’re here.” 

For more visit alittlecupofsea.ca or on Facebook and Instagram.

The brand is recognizable for its colour and style and the name itself is unforgettably adorable: Mernini. 

It has to be asked, where did the name come from? Mernini’s owner, Maria Halfyard, explains it was a name put upon her by her siblings growing up.  

“It was my name as a kid. Maria, it’s hard to say, and there are six of us siblings. So they just said ‘Mernini’ and the family still call me that, or ‘Nini,” she began with a reflective chuckle. 

So, when it was time to name her raincoat business, the choice was simple. 

“When I was trying to figure out a name for the raincoat brand, it was two years in and I had six different logos. My friends were sick of drafting up slogans and my sister was like, ‘just pick a name.’ But it had to have longevity. It had to be something that people would remember.” One night she said, ‘Mernini. That’s me,’ and she went for it, she explained. “It kind of sounds fashion like, so I just stuck with it. And my nieces and nephews, they fell in love with it because that’s what they call me.”

‘Make one myself’

Besides the name, how was the ‘Mernini’ born?  The answer, again, is simple: It was her response to the unpredictable NL weather. “Newfoundland weather inspired me. I work in the maritime sector and I manage research and development and business development. And so it was my job to help people bring their ideas to life, to solve a problem or expand an idea in the maritime world.”

She would dress up for meetings   and struggle with what to put on over her fancy attire, she said. 

“I would go to meetings, and I like to dress up. I like Canadian fashion or local fashion, and you dress up and by the time you get into the office or go to a meeting half your outfit would be drenched. As my sister says, the Newfoundland word is satched.” 

She knew what she needed, and what she wanted, but it wasn’t available.  “I was six month looking online, looking and looking across Europe. And I said ‘I can’t find one.’ So I said ‘I’m going to make one for myself.’”

She hired a designer to help with the pieces she struggled with and the idea began to take shape.

a passion project

“I sketched out something that I wanted. I wanted something that was obviously fashionable that I could wear with business clothes, but that was also kind of maritime. So it brought out our maritime culture and history. You look at a Mernini and say ‘oh, that looks like an old maritime slicker, but fashionable.’” 

Halfyard wanted to make sure the product was “unique to Newfoundland,” wanting it to look different, but making sure it could be “worn everywhere too.” 

There were a few bumps in the road as she moved her “passion project” along. There were four – maybe five – prototypes, she shared, before settling on the right fit.  

As to her audience? Women around 35 and older, but anyone can wear a Mernini. “It’s for working women, it’s for mothers who stay home. I wouldn’t say it’s a hiking coat, but if you’re going to watch your kid play soccer, it’s great for that.” 

Halfyard still treats this as a passion project (as she juggles a full-time job), but it has certainly added joy to her life, she shared. 

“In the beginning I was pretty much up until 3A.M, but now it’s a little bit more manageable because I’ve got my rhythm going and the marketing is catching on.”

From Dildo to Whitbourne, to Corner Brook and online, the Mernini is available. It’s also available in some big outlets across Canada, currently selling in eight provinces. The Mernini has also been featured on The Shopping Channel and in Chatelaine, as well as on The Social, Halfyard added. 

“Business is pretty darn good and I’m proud to be a brand coming out of the East Coast,” she shared proudly.

The weather here gives the Mernini the truest test of all, she added. “The wind and rain and fog here just tests the product and I’ve had people from all across Canada write me and say ‘You know how long I’ve been looking for a coat like this?” So now my biggest markets are here, Ontario and B.C..” 

‘a great compliment’

Her styles are “classic”, as are her colours, but she’s possibly looking at designing something a little shorter as well. But as for her main focus? 

“I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want the Mernini to be unique.”

The best thing about this venture? “For me it’s bringing my ideas to life and seeing the reactions from people going, ‘oh yeah. I really wanted this,’ but also taking their feedback and making improvements.”

The compliments are many, but certain ones stand out more than others. 

“One lady said ‘I was at Costco pumping gas and the guy beside me was cringing because he was getting soaked and I was just standing there taking my time and I was just smiling and I loved it.’ That was a great compliment.”

There’s some fun news coming up, with the brand soon be featured on a television series, but the best part is seeing her Mernini clients happy, she said proudly.

following a dream 

“I’m so proud how people have embraced it. It makes me feel like all this hard work is worth it and I feel that anybody can follow their dream with a lot of hard work, a lot of research, and a plan.” 

Part of the honour goes to her mom, she added. 

“My mom is my biggest supporter and she’s a businesswoman herself. So I think I got my grit and determination from her. She had six kids. She was a teacher. We didn’t have everything we wanted, obviously, but she worked hard and we had a great upbringing.”

Her mother worked hard for the family, and she’s been a fantastic grandmother as well, she added. Now looking back, from her business name to her positive outlook and determination to drive the Mernini brand, it all came from family. 

“It’s been a great experience and I’m equally humbled and proud.” 

For more visit mernini.com 

Nostalgia is a powerful thing. It has the innate ability to transport through time and space and to conjure up feelings we scarcely recall we had in us. But there it is, tucked away down deep, awoken by a sight, sound or smell. 

For many, music is a great binder, a changer and binder, an agent of togetherness. The vinyl record, for example, was the touchstone of a place and time that signalled the boom in musical innovation; the dawn of blues, the rise in heavy metal, birth of hip hop and emergence of the country music star.

No longer is the vinyl record a figment of the past. No, the record is in, baby, and those in the know, know best that if you need that rare find or can’t miss hot product, you go to Flip Side. 

Flip Side Music

Founded by Doug and Melisa Jones, lifelong music lovers and wax-heads (vinyl lovers), Flip Side Music + More has grown from hidden gem to firmly established pillar in Newfoundland and Labrador’s vinyl renaissance. 

“When I was growing up, there was vinyl at Woolco, Zellers … Fred’s had two locations, Tony’s in Mount Pearl was on the go. So there were a lot of places at one time that kind of dwindled off,” recalled Doug in a sitdown with The Herald. 

“We grew up with records. There’s a picture of me on the Flip Side page. I think I’m probably two years old with a McCartney record held upside down in my dad’s office. Beatles records all over the floor. I grew up with it, and I kind of left it when I moved to the mainland for a few years.”

Returning to the island years later, Doug would meet his soon to be life-partner in Melisa, bonding over – you guessed it – a mutual love of vinyl. 

“There was a Sunday flea market (in Ontario) and I started picking up records again. Meanwhile, here at home, I had all my stuff in storage, so I moved back and continued on and then we met (gesturing to Melisa),” Doug shared.

“We both owned our original record collection,” Melisa adds, with Doug laughing that, “Our first date was actually vinyl related. It had to do with Houses of the Holy (from the iconic Led Zeppelin).”

The rest, as they say, is written in music history. The pair wed, had children, and laid-down roots on the island, but their mutual love of music, and the ever-alluring vinyl, remained strong.

“When our kids got a bit older, we started buying records again. Doug kind of got really good at finding hard to get stuff,” Melisa explained. 

“We started out and he’d say, ‘Well, I’m ordering from this site, do you guys want to go in on it?’ Like on some local groups to kind of split shipping. And then it kind of evolved from there.”

“When you’re ordering from Europe or Japan or wherever else it’s a high cost. So we threw in a few (records) and then would sell those to offset the shipping,” Doug adds. “And then we kind of decided, well, let’s try and bring in some new stuff. And to do that you need a GST number, a business number. So we said ‘Well, let’s give it a shot and invest a little bit of money and see where it goes.’” 

Adds Melisa, “We already run another business, a bigger business as our day job. So it wasn’t a huge learning curve for us. Retail’s different with inventories, but actually going through the processes of dealing with business stuff, it’s not a stretch.”

The Record Business

Developing their own record-slinging business came out of a necessity to find that ever-rare collector’s find and hidden gem as anything else, the couple explained.

“We couldn’t really find some of the titles we were looking for locally. Like I said before, I grew up with Fred’s and it’s a wonderful spot, but it doesn’t really have some stuff that you would be looking for outside of what they carry. So hard rock, metal, hip hop, even a bit of jazz and stuff,” Doug admits. “We just started bringing stuff in, reggae as well. So yeah, that’s kind where it started. And here we are, four years later.”

For the record, vinyl is back in a big way, long since overtaking CDs as the most in-demand form of physical media. 

In Newfoundland and Labrador, vinyl is massively popular once again, and Flip Side has capitalized on that boom, much to the delight of their patrons.

The couple went one-step further in their vinyl love, kick-starting the now must-attend Record Fair NL in St. John’s, a record-lover’s dream-day jam-packed with vendors carrying everything from the latest-and-greatest-stuff-on-wax to rare finds and golden oldies. 

What started as a, ‘let’s see where it goes’ proposition, has evolved into a bi-annual exercise in a provincial love of vinyl.

“The first one was a gamble,” Melisa admits. “That very first one, we had no idea what to expect in regards to patron numbers and that kind of thing. It was at the Legion and the first one we automatically knew we had to go bigger. Anyone who was at first one, you couldn’t move. It was shoulder to shoulder.”

“When we first tried it, it kind of came from an idea of a local vinyl group that wanted to do a get-together,” adds Doug. 

“We kind of said, ‘Well, let’s expand on that a little bit and we’ll reserve the small room and the big room at the Legion and we’ll see what the interest is’. So I think it was probably within 24 hours we said, ‘Yeah, OK, we need the big room.’ We’ll try it. We’ll charge a buck to get in to cover the cost and do it DIY and do it right. I mean, I grew up playing in punk rock bands and you go rent a hall, rent a PA, put the show off and away you go. That’s kind of been our philosophy for the record fair.”

Record Fair NL: May 15^th

With the next installment of the Record Fair NL scheduled for May 15th at their long-time home at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market, and with Flip Side’s business booming with both local and international buyers, we pose the perhaps obvious question: why vinyl?

“It’s not a fad anymore, right? You can’t deny it. So I think part of it is a nostalgia factor, for sure,” says Doug. 

“Part of it, for us personally, everybody’s life is pretty hectic. And if you can come home, drop the needle, just sit for 22 minutes per side and not really have to think about anything else. There’s immense value in that. And then you’ve got the gearheads who love their turntables and cartridges and sound setups, and they’re really into it. And then there’s other people who just like to hang out with their kids and share music with their friends.”

For more on Flip Side Music + More visit flipsidenl.com. For all things concerning Record Fair NL visit the official event Facebook page.