Think Like a Farmer

Think Like a Farmer

City living offers just about everything a body could wish for 24/7, so what should I say when the Thursday forecast predicts rain two weeks in a row?

Ignore all those urban conveniences?
Put on extra layers, and boots, and step out into the world?
Yeah, that’s it. It’s market day!

If you need a different way to think about rain, talk to a farmer. Andrew McIlmoyle from Waymac was smiling through last week’s showers, thinking about his farm pond filling up. It’s usually 6 or 7 feet deep, he says, but it got down to about a foot in the summer, too muddy for the cows to drink. Our friend Ann van der Heyden from Woolerdale told me the tap just stopped running one day, and they had to give up on a lot of plantings. She’s been worrying about the impact of the drought on young farmers, who have nothing to fall back on in a lean year. Her hopes are pinned on these fall rains, which replenish everything before freezeup makes it too hard for the ground to absorb moisture.

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Speaking of freezeup, we’ve got a little longer to enjoy fresh field greens like these lovely lettuces from Marvellous Edibles. We’ll also have excellent pickings from Ted‘s fall field, including radishes, arugula, mizuna, gai lan and other cooking greens.

Jenny from Knuckle Down Farm writes: “They are calling for snow at the farm but we will be at market bundled up with bundles of greens and some spicy salad mix to add a little heat. Miniature cabbages and onions will be back too! Hope to see you there rain or shine.”

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Rumour has it that chestnuts are in, and available from Forbes Wild Foods.
Ali Harris will have his delicious hot ginger tea ready to stoke your inner fire, and don’t forget ChocoSol’s special Hallowe’en and Day of the Dead treats.

We look forward to seeing you!
Anne Freeman

Vendors this week:

Ali Harris
All Sorts Acre
Bees Universe
ChocoSol
Country Meadows Gardens
Culture City
DeFloured
Everdale Organic Farm
Forbes Wild Foods
Kind Organics
Knuckle Down Farm
Marvellous Edibles
Monforte Dairy
Pine River 
Plan B 
Shared Harvest Community Farm
Sosnicki Organic Produce
Spade & Spoon
Ted Thorpe
Waymac Farms-absent due to illness today

Fresh trout from Lowell Springs coming next week!