At the start of the pandemic, MARLA and pete bradford moved their lives and their business, the barrel house, from picton to clifFord

*Marla and Pete Bradford, inside their business* *The Barrel House, which relocated to Clifford from Picton, Ontario, in 2020.*

Tell us about your family.

“Pete and I are part of the sandwich generation, trying to survive, strive and have fun as we work towards retirement.

Both of us have mothers in long term care, and our daughter is a nurse and moved to Kentucky with her husband last year.”

The Barrel House’s pandemic offshoot, The Cooper’s Cart, is becoming known by locals and tourists for its baked goods made with whiskey barrel-aged syrups, sugars, and other handcrafted culinary ingredients. Required tasting: the cinnamon buns and butter tarts!

Where did you move from and why did you decide to Move to Minto?

“We moved from Picton, Ontario, in Prince Edward County. Pete's family is originally from Goderich, and I was born in Clinton. We've cottaged on Lake Huron for years, and knew we wanted to be closer one day. In 2019, we did a demonstration on barrels as coopers at the Wellington County Museum’s Heritage Day, and happened to meet a guy from Minto who was playing in the band. Pete thought he was my oldest brother, which led to a photo to send to my brother, and a discussion about us moving to the region. Gary suggested the Town of Minto and Belinda [Wick-Graham, director of economic and community development].

We had previously contacted North Perth and Wellington Counties for information. Belinda was the first to get back to us and we have never looked back.

COVID-19 lockdowns made us decide to move here sooner than later, and Belinda assisted us in finding a place for our business and a place to live as well.”

What are some of your favourite ways to spend time in Minto?

“We are busy building our brand in the region and trying to be a great addition to the community, so we haven’t had much down time.

We do enjoy the country drives with the gorgeous farms, horse ranches and the many villages to visit as well. Walking the streets and trails of Clifford and Harriston with our dog has been enjoyable too.”

“The community is welcoming and friendly, but by far what has made the biggest difference for our business is the support and networking of The Town of Minto Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce.”

Do you have a favourite local business or place to shop?

“Our favourite restaurant is Gramma Jo's in Clifford. We visited it on our first trip to Minto to meet with Belinda and Terry from the Town of Minto about business property. Now we know all the amazing staff there on a first name basis. They have also helped as a great networking group for the area. Obviously we're regulars.

Clifford Takeout offers great pizza too.

Acheson Pharmacy is a charming and friendly little store in Harriston that offers more than just prescriptions.

Stoney Ridge Sheds has also been a great neighbour to our business, and helped us in a time of need more than once.”

What has surprised you about living here?

“Our greatest surprise about moving here is the support and networking supplied not just by the Town of Minto office, which is outstanding, but also the support of the local communities surrounding us. Genuine people live here and love to support local.”

What would you tell someone who was interested in moving to Minto?

“We tell people all the time how much we love living here and wish we had moved sooner. The community is welcoming and friendly, but by far what has made the biggest difference for our business is the support and networking of The Town of Minto Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce, which have helped us to get involved with local food initiatives like Taste Real.”