A Happy Hodge-Podge

A Happy Hodge-Podge

This week has been an exceptionally busy and varied one for market correspondence. I’ve had an inquiry from Twillingate, Newfoundland about opportunities to sell organic fertilizer made from crab, shrimp and seaweed (who’s already singing I’se the B’y?), a nice chain of correspondence with Bloordale Collegiate’s student-run Arctos Robotics Team, looking for ways to get involved in the community (robo-demos promised for spring!), a request for views on why cauliflower is so expensive from blogger Dana Harrison of wellpreserved.ca (interesting recipes there), and that’s just a start on the list.

Here are a few more items from my overflowing inbox:

Gurjot Narwal fell in love with Toronto’s farmers’ markets as soon as he discovered them, and since last summer, he’s been testing ideas to bring market food to more people.  He has just developed a site called ‘Basqet.co‘, for people who can’t make it to market and would like him to shop for them. Much as I hope to see all your smiling faces, this could be handy for some of you. Here’s how it works:

“Get your goodies delivered to your home in 3 easy steps.
1. Go to beta.basqet.co to search the items you want by category or name and add them to the cart.
2. Enter your phone number and address and place your order before 1pm on Thursday.
3. Pay by cash or card when you receive the delivery at your home.

Delivery: $5 for orders under $50, 10% of the order value for orders over $50

If you already know what you want then you can just email orders@basqet.co with your item list, home address and preferred time to receive the delivery.”

 

Many emails have been coming in from vendors interested in applying to join the market in the spring. This week, Chris and Krista of DeFloured will be absent, and we figured their loyal fans would be sad not to have gluten-free baking available. So we decided to invite Rebecca and Teneile Warren of Life in Homemade. whose baking focuses on breads, to introduce their products as visiting vendors:

 

Teneile and Rebecca

“At Life in Homemade, we provide our customers with a product that requires no sacrifice, particularly if you live with dietary restrictions. Most gluten-free breads have been likened to cardboard. Gluten is the much relied-upon ingredient that gives bread its elasticity, airiness and much-loved softness. Our loaves and other bread products deliver on the promise of delicious gluten-free items with true bread texture. Say hello once more to all things bread!”

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The next news item falls in the ‘getting to know you’ category. Have you ever wondered what some of the interesting people at the market do when it isn’t Thursday afternoon? Recently I learned that Horace, who works alongside Ali Harris,  is a personal trainer, with a business called McFit360. New Year’s resolutions, anyone? Horace can tell you all about his services at the market, or if he’s busy making rotis you can reach him at 647-862-7802.

Shared Harvest will be coming this week, with storage veggies, dried herbs, and ferments, and we expect Ted Thorpe with apples and other fresh produce. Unfortunately, everybody at Spade & Spoon has come down with a bad cold, so they can’t come today. They will join us next week instead.

See you at the market!
Anne Freeman

P.S. Don’t forget to bring your Loyal Eaters Card and get it stamped (by me, or at the snackbar) after you’ve done $10 worth of shopping anywhere in the market. It’s not too late to get a card and start collecting stamps. We have 11 weeks left in this winter reward program, so you could miss one market and still make it to 10 and claim your reward!

Here are the vendors we expect this week.
(Rinkhouse = North end, Garage = South end)
Ali Harris RINKHOUSE
Bees Universe WEST SIDE, OUTDOORS
Chocosol GARAGE
Country Meadows RINKHOUSE
Culture City GARAGE
Dufferin Park Bakers RINKHOUSE
Forbes Wild Foods RINKHOUSE
Kind Organics RINKHOUSE
Marvellous Edibles Farm RINKHOUSE
Shared Harvest Community Farm GARAGE
Spade & Spoon ABSENT TODAY, NEXT WEEK INSTEAD
Ted Thorpe GARAGE
Ying Ying Soy Food RINKHOUSE
visiting vendors Life in Homemade will be in Spade & Spoon’s spot in the RINKHOUSE

There are stops for north and southbound buses right at our corner, or the subway is one block north. If you plan to drive, please use the parking on the north end of the park, across from the high school (access from Havelock or the north end of Gladstone) to avoid jam-ups on the little street by the market.