Waiting for Rain, but Harvests Continue

 

Good summer to be a thistle. Not a good summer to be a tree, or a farmer. Even though I’ve been following news of the drought and observing its effects for many weeks, when I visited the farm where I grew up recently, it was shocking to walk on crisp grass and see the state of the landscape. Some of our market farms have plentiful water to irrigate, but not all. Debbie Wiecha and her husband put down a deep layer of mulch in their orchard last winter, and that’s what has saved the peach crop. It’s incredible that we have any harvests coming in at all, and yet, we’re so well fed. Here’s the news from the vendors:

Sosnicki Organic Produce reports: “Sweet Corn and ordering Romas are the big topics at our farm this week! Oodles of our corn coming to Dufferin! It will be freshly harvested in the morning for market. Enjoy!

Also, check out our blog for info on ordering sauce Romas: sosnickiorganicproduce.blogspot.ca  The slight price increase with our crops will aid in irrigation costs and also crop failures due to lack of rain. Carrots and Beets are really getting beat up out there. It’s hard to say at this point how decent the fall crops will be. We are on a small acreage and are fortunate to be able to irrigate. We are optimistic and very happy about tomatoes and peppers. We’ve planted a nice variety of what seems like everything – but failures are expected especially with the drought. Thanks for your support!” Jess, Ben and crew

LATE-BREAKING NEWS: When they headed out to pick the corn this morning, hungry wild ones had knocked down and eaten 4 acres of it, so quantities will be much smaller than hoped for.

From Urban Harvest: “We will be bringing some large plants to market along with our regular compliment of seeds, amendments and body care. Try a hydrosol to stay cool.” Cheers, Colette

Jennifer Osborne is proud and excited about the quality of All Sorts Acres lamb, which she will begin bringing to every other market starting this week. She’ll also have wool products, ice cream, and sometimes duck eggs.

If you’re in the mood to head north, Marvellous Edibles is offering a FARM TOUR: Sunday August 14th – 11:30-5pm. “Join Ayse Akoner, Jens and Cengiz Eller (who is off to school this fall!) and a wonderful, international group of interns, WWOOFers and volunteers for a tour of Marvellous Edibles Farm.
A warm welcome awaits our friends and supporters. Tour the farm, meet the animals and sample some tasty goodies, some from Ayse’s wood burning oven. Come see where all that wonderful food comes from.”  There’s a map on their website: marvellousediblesfarm.ca

Mike The Knife Guy is back to sharpen your knives. Cooking prep got a lot easier in our house after I brought him our favourites last time!

Laura Dee will be offering henna by donation for adults and kids alike, Jackie Kwitko will bring Fressy Bessy ice pops, and Aarti Patel will be visiting with JabbaBox healthy treats.

See you at the market!
Anne Freeman

P.S. Toronto Botanical Garden is screening an interesting looking series of feature-length documentary films on the last Saturday of the month from August through November, on permaculture, urban farming, seed saving and more. To watch the trailers and reserve tickets, visit: torontobotanicalgarden.ca

Our Vendors this week:

All Sorts Acres
Ali Harris
Bees Universe
Best Baa
Chocosol
Country Meadows
Culture City
DeFloured
Dufferin Park Bakers
Earth & City
Everdale Organic Farm
Evelyn’s Crackers
Floralora Flowers
Forbes Wild Foods
Hungry Vegan
JK Fries
Kind Organics
Marvellous Edibles
Mike the Knife Guy
Niagara Lavender
Pine River Organic Farm
Plan B
Shared Harvest Community Farm
Sosnicki Organic Produce
Spade & Spoon
Tapioca Gourmet
Thorpe’s Organic Produce
Ujamaa Farm
Urban Harvest
VQA Wines: Southbrook
Waymac
Ying Ying Soy Food

Guests: JabbaBox healthy treats, Fressy Bessy ice pops, Laura Dee henna by donation