One More Sweet September Afternoon

And so we arrive at the end of September, and the last ‘path’ market of 2017. We had quite a bumpy ride this season with construction, crop losses and stormy Thursdays, but these last few weeks have been ever so lovely. With sunset at 6:50 next week, we’ll make our usual October move up to the rinkpad on the east side of the building, where we can use the lights. Please help to spread the word, so no one thinks we’ve disappeared. Lots more bountiful harvest markets ahead! Here’s some good farm news:

Blythe from Spade & Spoon says, “With this warm weather we’ve had, it’s a whole new ballgame for tomatoes!” She’s turning some of her bumper crop into delicious fresh salsa for us this week, oh yum. Caesar mix coming soon!

Ted Thorpe called to say he will have abundant spinach and other greens for the foreseeable future. EAT LEAVES, they are so tasty and so good for you! Another ‘coming soon’: Ted’s going to bring (well-priced, organically grown) jack-o-lantern pumpkins throughout the next month.

This Sunday Ted’s Farm Fest is the place to be. Some of you will recall Tedstock, the year of amazing mud, but this time round the forecast is excellent. Stop by his table to get $10 tickets (to cover the entertainment) and sort out ride-sharing. There will be a pickup at noon from the Aldershot GO station if you want to head out that way. The Farm Market opens at 10 am, and the party runs from noon to midnight.

Everdale News and “The List” from Wolf: “We are looking forward to another beautiful September afternoon with all your smiling faces at Dufferin Grove!
Everdale is looking for new applicants to our Sustainable Farming Certificate program! If you have an interest in learning how to farm, consider our 8 month apprenticeship. More info at www.everdale.org

In terms of victuals, you’ll find the following items on hand this week: arugula, basil, red beets, rainbow beets, bok choi, broccoli, napa cabbage, orange carrots, rainbow carrots, chard, cilantro, collards, cucumber, dill, fennel, local organic flowers, gai lan (chinese broccoli), garlic, local organic ginger, black kale, green kale, purple kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, red storage onion, yellow storage onion, parsley, sweet peppers, red radish, easter egg radish, watermelon radish, daikon, salad mix, mustard greens, spinach, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, hakurei (salad turnip), assorted varieties of winter squash.

Here’s a sweet video about the apprenticeship program:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwFTCw0ibvs

The Sosnicki Organic Produce contribution: “Harvest is well underway and man oh man we’ve got nice fall stuff! Broccoli! Scads and scads of Broccoli! The heat has brought this crop on fast! Look for bins of it tomorrow. The corn is wrapping up but there will still be some to enjoy. Romanesco Cauliflower and huge red and green Cabbages are some stars this week. (After two years of terrible storage cabbage harvests this year looks like it will be amazing!) Holy Beets! Lots of big reds and rainbow bunches. We may not harvest carrots for tomorrow – but a fresh patch is right around the corner. Fresh dug Yukon Gold Potatoes, still Cherry and Grape Tomatoes (from field and greenhouse), a fresh patch of Green Beans that did well because of the heat, Watermelons, Onions, gorgeous Kale, Garlic too! ” Jess, Ben, Joe & crew

Mark Skinner of Windswept Cider will have a load of Macs for eating as well as cider for drinking. The apples are not certified. However, they come from trees that haven’t been sprayed for 8 years. Ask Mark about what he’s up to with his ‘Lost Orchards’ project.

Earth & City will be absent this time. Be sure to look for Johnny and Hiren‘s amazing samosas under the Baha’s Food tent, and Patti‘s delicious baking on the Robinson Bread table. Down on the path, we’ll have one last visit from Leslie Brock with heritage garlic, and our sweet friend Nikki will be changing habits one bag at a time with Boomerang Bags.

See you at the market!
Anne Freeman

Vendors This Week:
Ali Harris: rotis, sandwiches, salads, cold drinks
All Sorts Acre: lamb, wool, sheep milk ice cream
Baha’s Food: samosas, hot sauce and biscuits
Bees Universe: honey, eggs, bee products
Chocosol: chocolate, coffee, tamales, drinks
Country Meadows: cheese, eggs, olives, oil
Culture City: fermented foods, condiments
DeFloured: gluten free baking
Dufferin Park Bakers: wood-fired oven breads & pizzas, salads, snacks
Earth & City: pestos, smoothies, salads, wraps
Everdale: fresh organic produce
Forbes Wild Foods: blueberries, mushrooms & other wild foods
Kind Organics: sprouts, salad mixes, teas
Knuckle Down Farm: fresh organic veggies
Lesley Brock (visiting vendor): garlic
Marvellous Edibles: pastured poultry, meats, organic vegetables
Monforte Dairy: cheeses of many kinds
Pine River: fresh organic vegetables
Plan B: fresh organic produce
Robinson Bread: local grain sourdough baking
Shared Harvest: fresh organic vegetables, herbs
Sosnicki Organic Produce: fresh organic vegetables
Spade & Spoon: pickles, jams, maple syrup
Stas: french fries, grilled meats
Tapioca Toronto: Brazilian style crepes
Ted Thorpe: fresh produce
Urban Harvest: body care, seeds
Waymac: oyster & shiitake mushrooms
Windswept Cider: Ontario (hard) cider and Mac apples

 

Last week’s market was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. The kids particularly enjoyed Not Far from the Tree’s cider-pressing demo, and Kevin Hamilton‘s harmonica-playing pals were a treat.