A Welcome Bit of Green

Hello Market Friends,

It’s planting time! It finally feels like spring has actually arrived, and it’s time to get excited about green vegetables and planting seeds. We always manage to cram a couple of tomato plants, chili plants, and herbs next to our little table and chairs on our tiny 6 ft by 6 ft balcony. It’s not a lot but it’s a welcome bit of green for our concrete box in the sky, and hopefully a rest stop for any passing urban insects.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Colette Murphy of Urban Harvest at her greenhouse in Black Creek Community Farm. While many of us may be just beginning to plan our gardens, Colette is in full production mode. The greenhouse was packed with trays upon trays of sprouting tomatoes, lettuces, kales, herbs, flowers, and more – including these tiny chicory plants just beginning to show the vibrant red colour that they’ll develop later.

It was fascinating to watch Colette and her crew planning out the week’s planting to ensure continual supplies of plants for the season, and to see how efficiently they transplanted young calendula plants from their seed trays to individual pots. I obviously won’t be able to grow even a fraction of the over 60 tomato varieties that Colette provides, but I’m looking forward to bringing some Black Trifele, Persimmon, and Pineapple tomato plants to friends and family with gardens of their own. No matter how little or how much we’re able to grow, I always think it’s important to grow something to eat: it helps us feel more connected to our food and to the seasons and the hard work reminds us to be grateful for all of our amazing farmers!

See you at the Market!
Kyla Schwarz-Lam

Market Notes
It’s SUNNY and warm! Don’t be surprised to see vendors outside enjoying the sunshine (although our official move out is still a couple of weeks away).

Vasile from Green Florin is bringing some new oils: flaxseed, pumpkin seed, sesame, and grapeseed. He’ll also have dried apricots.

Damon of Culture City is back this week and so is Colette from Urban Harvest.

First Fish will be away but should be back next week, as will Island Oysters and Huber’s Wildwood Farm.

Heidrun’s Dufferin Park Bakers list:
Rice Flour Bread
Sourdough loaves: Rye, Caraway-Multigrain, Olive-Onion
Artisan loaves: Baguette, Spelt-Walnut, Cranberry-Walnut
Italian loaves: Rosemary, Multigrain, Whole Wheat, Raisin

This week’s Vendor List (April 25, 2019)
Ali Harris (rotis, fish sandwiches, fritters, drinks, pesto)
Bees Universe (honey, eggs, knife sharpening)
ChocoSol (chocolate and coffee)
Country Meadows (olives, oil, cheeses, eggs)
Culture City (non-soy tempeh, fermented condiments)
DeFloured (sweet and savoury gluten-free baking)
Dufferin Park Bakers (wood-fired oven breads, soups & snacks)
Forbes Wild Foods (mushrooms, nuts, syrup and more)
Green Florin (nuts, oils and dried fruits)
Kind Organics (sprouts and salad mixes)
Marvellous Edibles (organic produce, preserves, poultry)
Monforte Dairy (local cheeses from a variety of milks)
Plan B (local and imported organic produce, ferments)
Spade & Spoon (jams, pickles, maple syrup)
Thor Farms (organic beef)
Urban Harvest (seeds and soil amendments)