Thursday Blues and Greens

Last week, when most market-goers wrapped up their shopping early to get out of the usual Thursday rain, Damon Dewsbury of Culture City and Rodrigo Venturelli of Plan B treated those who remained to an oh-so-fine blues session in the zamboni garage. We’re hoping the sun will break through and it won’t be all hurtin’ songs this time. These guys are good!

Spring planting has been delayed for many farmers due to the wet conditions, but the crops that had a head start in hoophouses and greenhouses are coming on strong. Everdale will be back, and Kyle sent their list: “This week we’ll have lots of salad mix, arugula, radishes. cilantro, hakurei turnips. bok choi, dry beans, carrots, beets and some other roots.”

We’ll have plenty of rhubarb, wild leeks, all kinds of greens, and another bumper crop: Floralora’s spring blooms! Treat all the Mums, Mommies and Mamas you hold dear to bunches of tulips and other fresh flowers. They’re local, harvested by a happy, hard-working and much-appreciated crew, and unlike most cutflowers, they’re free of chemical inputs.

Bees Universe and Pine River will be absent, but otherwise we expect a full house, with vendors inside the garage and north end as well as outside along the south and west sides of the building. We have a new volunteer helping us out, and we’re going to put her right to work trying to count how many people come to the market on a spring afternoon. It’s not an easy task actually, since it’s so pleasant to wander in and out and up and down, browsing and chatting before deciding what to take home.  Say hi to Kira on one of the times you pass by!

News from Linda at Country Meadows Gardens: “I thought I’d better send out something to say our ark did fine in the latest mini floods. For awhile there I thought I’d have to get life jackets for the animals and poultry!! The greenhouses are overflowing with plants. I did some beautiful herb combination planters for Mother’s Day gifts this year.”

Marvellous Edibles has fresh prime cuts of grass-fed beef ready. There are excellent advantages to having a chef as your farmer. Jens is very particular about the details of cutting and aging their beef in preparation for market, and he’s always got good advice about how to cook it. His expertise really shows in the delicious sausages and burgers he makes, and beginning this week, you can enjoy these on the spot!

A warm welcome to Stanislav Tomaschevitch, aka Stas, who will be making Marvellous Burgers, Meatball Sandwiches, Bratwurst & Sauerkraut on a Bun, Fries* and Gaufrettes to order. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship….

See you at the market!
Anne Freeman

*If you are curious to know the whereabouts of ‘the fry boys’, the Kennedys will be cooking up a storm on their farm in Prince Edward County this summer.
This Week’s Vendor List:

Ali Harris
Bon Service (New! Stas Tomaschevitch)
ChocoSol
Country Meadows
Culture City
DeFloured
Dufferin Park Bakers
Earth & City
Everdale 
Floralora
Forbes Wild Foods
Kind Organics
Knuckle Down Farm
Marvellous Edibles
Monforte Dairy
Plan B
Sosnicki Organic Produce
Spade & Spoon
Urban Harvest
Waymac