​Purple Grove news

The Ripley-Huron Community Centre social room was decorated in an Irish theme, with hostess Christine Roberts greeting guests and members for the March 6 meeting of the Purple Grove Women’s Institute.

President Bren de Leeuw welcomed everyone with the fact that spring is really only 13 days away and March 8 was also International Women's Day! Even Canada's theme for this year is "Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress!" Roll Call was answered by 13 members and five guests.

Convener Betty Johnson introduced the guest speaker, Angela Devitt, owner of Stone Bridge Flour. She and her husband, Tyson, farm in Huron Township and she uses the wheat that is produced on their own farm. 

Angela began experimenting with grinding her own flour in 2020. She did much baking and testing before she was happy with the consistency and how the final product looked and performed. It took a year-and-a-half to get all the regulations passed for producing her own flour with a stone grind mill and setting up a building in the backyard in Kincardine.

The flour uses all of the grain, so there is always more bran and germ in the final product. Angela has designed her own logo for the packaging, creating the website for her on-line business and designed baking tools. All the packaging is make of paper and can be recycled. She is looking forward to getting the pre-printed flour bags.

Angela loves to bake and she trials everything before she starts marketing any new product. She now has 11 different flours and baking mixes in her product line, and she is using different grains besides wheat, including oats, and spelt.

The name comes from the Stone Bridge that is on a corner of their farm. Angela enjoys going to the markets and shows to meet her customers. Questions from members were addressed and compliments extended.

Betty expressed appreciation to Angela for a great presentation on starting a niche agricultural business! The ladies were able to sample and purchase some products from Angela during the lunch and social time.

Dianne Simpson and Bonnie Boyle kept the theme going with Irish Soda bread and Irish cupcakes!

The meeting reconvened and highlights were shared from the Feb. 19 W.I. Day, including tips for attracting members. Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada (FWIC) is celebrating its 127th anniversary this year. 

The group congratulated Ellen Waye on her new position in public relations with the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO), and happy in Bruce County to have Michelle Phillippi of Walkerton continue as FWIO president.

Roots of Bruce is coming up April 18-19 in Walkerton. The District Directors meeting was set for March 7 in Chesley, with Bren de Leeuw and Cheryl Bridge attending.

The annual meeting is April 3, with payment of fees. Program is “Canadian Culture and Traditions.”

Courtesy remarks were extended by Brenda to all who helped with the meeting and she gave an Irish Blessing in closing.