News

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

Posted on by Anne Freeman
Make Hay While the Sun Shines
04
Jul

Hello Market Friends:
I don’t usually put a photo from someone who’ll be away at the top of the news, but I couldn’t resist Andrew McIlmoyle’s  view of hay as far as the eye can see. In case you don’t know Andrew, he’s usually behind the Waymac Farms table of mushrooms. Like many a small-scale farmer, he needs diverse sources of income, and Andrew’s main crop is hay. After our soggy spring, it’s growing like mad, and he has to spend as many hours cutting as he can, and then all his other hours helping his wife, Erika, look after their four very little ones. Sleep will be more plentiful during another season….

Here’s another classic summer image,  Sadie Sosnicki and her pal Koharu helping with the harvest:

make hay while the sun shines

Jessie says they will send some zucchini blossoms to Dufferin, but the supply of these delicacies will be limited. Here’s the rest of the Sosnicki Organic Produce list: “Peas and Strawberries and zucchini! Lots of long green and Patty Pan Zucs coming! Still our strawberries! Bringing the tiny sweet ones and big late variety too. Peas! Shelling, sugar snap and snow in abundance. Greens like Salad mixes and kale too!”

Hip hip hurray, Ted Thorpe returns! He will be bringing his cousin’s strawberries and some of his home farm greens.
A warm welcome to Connie Wiecha, coming with the first of Niagara Lavender Farm’s raspberries and lavender. Peaches need a few more weeks, since you asked.
Mimi from Reye’s Farms says their cherries are not ready yet either, but she has her fingers crossed for next week.
Chef Camellia of Dvourr is bringing her amazing cornbread waffles with a choice of honey jerk pork, buttermilk fried chicken, or mushrooms. If you didn’t get to try this decadently delicious food last time, join the line this time.
Urban Harvest and Spade & Spoon will be absent.
It’s the week for Catalyst Community Herbals, Southbrook Vineyards, and Robinson Bread!
“Helen Mends” will be our Special Guest, offering a (solar-powered!) workshop called, “Bloody Good Pads”. Given that the average North American woman uses 12,000 to 16,000 disposable personal hygiene products in her lifetime, making your own reusable pads saves a whole lotta garbage. You can also bring Helen your mending and alteration jobs. She’s a whiz at clothing repairs and her rates are reasonable.
A reminder to BYO bags and containers to haul all the summer goodies you can carry home.
Our selection of the freshest organic produce is really taking off. Here are a few market shots from last week; now just add more!
summercollage
See you at the market!
Anne Freeman
This Week’s Vendors:
Aldergrove Organic Farm (veggies and flowers)
Ali Harris (rotis, fish sandwiches, fritters, drinks, pesto)
Bees Universe (honey, bee products, eggs)
Catalyst Community Herbals (traditional herbal products)
ChocoSol (chocolate and coffee)
Country Meadows (olives, oil, cheeses, herbs)
Culture City (tempehs, fermented condiments)
DeFloured (sweet and savoury gluten-free baking)
Dufferin Park Bakers (wood-fired oven breads, soups & snacks)
Dvourr (waffles with pork, chicken or mushroom toppings)
Earth & City (snacks, spreads and beverages)
First Fish (wild-caught Arctic fillets and hot or cold smoked fish)
Forbes Wild Foods (fresh and dried mushrooms, syrup, nuts and other wild foods)
Fressy Bessie (organic ice pops)
Green Florin (nuts, oils and dried fruits) & Pine River Organic Farm (veggies)
Kind Organics (sprouts and salad mixes)
Knuckle Down Farm (veggies)
Marvellous Edibles (organic chicken, produce, preserves)
Mismak Zena (Ethiopian Cuisine)
Monforte Dairy (local cheeses from a variety of milks, tamales)
Niagara Lavender (lavender, berries)
Plan B (local and imported organic produce, ferments)
Robinson Bread (sourdough baking from freshly milled grains)
Shared Harvest (organic veggies and herbs)
Sosnicki Organic Produce (organic vegetables)
Southbrook Vineyards (organic VQA wines)
Tapioca Toronto (Brazilian-style gluten-free crepes with market fillings)
Thorpe’s Organic Produce (strawberries and greens)