Fruits + Veggies
Meat + Dairy
Preserves + Specialty Foods
Baking + Prepared Food
Hello Market Friends:
You can’t go to the movies, you can’t hang around in your favourite café, and all the museums and galleries are closed. What is there to do in this town? If you lived in the country, you wouldn’t have all these options at the best of times! My brother and his wife live on the farm where I grew up, and one of their favourite pastimes is watching CTV. The C stands for Chicken in this case; they sit out back enjoying the activities of their flock of free-range heritage breed chickens. Sometimes you have to find ways to make your own fun!
Recently one of my most enjoyable activities has been corresponding with a new market penpal. As is the case with many other loyal market-goers, I have known Maia Waern by face but not by name for years. (Fortunately Nicole is always happy to help me out!) Turns out Maia is a songwriter, photographer and bird watcher who was delighted to grant permission to share a couple of her videos with you.
The first one is called Early This Morning, and it is about backyard birds, surely one of the sweetest forms of at home in the city entertainment. Test your knowledge by watching the video first without sound and naming as many bird species as you can. Then see how well you did by watching it again with the sound on. Take the challenge; it’s fun!
Urban Harvest
1 packet each of Tomato Costoluto Genovese, Scarlet Nantes Carrot, Beets, Parade Bunching Onion, Italian Basil
Bees Universe
Pure 100% beeswax. Researches show that burning beeswax produces negative ions which neutralize odors and purifies the air.
Harley Farms
Shepherds pie with grass fed beef. Ingredients: Ground Beef, Carrots, Onions, Worcestershire Sauce, Garlic, Thyme, Tomato Paste, Salt, Chicken Stock, Potatoes, Butter, Paprika, Corn
Bees Universe
Light and fruity! Wildflower honey is made by bees that have collected nectar from a local source of wildflowers. An ideal sweetener for tea and coffee. Delightful when drizzled on fresh fruit or your favourite breakfast food!
All Sorts Acres Farm
Two of each of our best sellling flavours: Vanilla Maple, Mango Pineapple, & 4 Berry Blend. Take it anywhere with you! Rich, creamy, and that frozen tingly on your tongue. Ideal for lunches, hikes, or anywhere a jar just won't work. Over a $3 saving from buying individually plus NO TAX
TC Tibetan MoMo
Ingredients: Cabbage, Carrot, Leek, Spinach, Potato, Garlic, and Sunflower Oil Wrapped in Organic Flour
Spade and Spoon
Amber grade is a classic maple syrup flavour of medium maple intensity. A delicate profile, this is a traditional go-to for pancakes and waffle fare.
Forbes Wild Foods
Maple Butter is maple syrup that has been beaten and whipped into a spreadable substance with the most delicious flavor and texture. Used as an icing sugar or to replace honey in a PB&J sandwhich, once you have tried it there is no going back.
Urban Harvest
Worm castings are one of the best organic fertilizers with a high nutrient content and a neutral pH. They have a high concentration of available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, and boost the plant’s natural immune system. Great for apartment dwellers or those without their own compost. Use twice per month for all your house and container plants.
Earth and City
Ingredients: Coconut oil*, Almond butter, Beets, Agave*, Cacao powder*, Vanilla extract*, Pecans*, Sea salt* (*organic) Package Size: 3 x fudge pieces
was pretty happy with my results, but I didn’t know there were Chimney Swifts in Toronto! Here is what Maia told me:
“I learned about Chimney Swifts when a developer had to stop plans to tear down the church at the north/east corner of St Clair West and Wychwood because there are Chimney Swifts, which are listed as Threatened under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, living in the chimney! And at around the same time, my neighbour, whose multiple types of bird feeders are greatly responsible for many of the migrators’ names in my Early This Morning song, casually and kindly corrected me during a lovely sidewalk-to-porch chat, saying that the chattering birds that I called Swallows (in more than one song, I might add) were actually Chimney Swifts. Mind beautifully blown…and lyrics rewritten!”
If you are itching for a getaway, Maia’s second video will take you out of town without leaving your chair.
Spending a little time browsing round our website is quite entertaining too, if we do say so ourselves!
We have Nith Valley Organics’ outstanding winter veg again this week. Their double-sized bags of greens were snatched up mighty quickly, so you might have to console yourself with one of their Chicken Pies, which are reputed to be amazing.
One more thing I learned from Maia is that Nathan Klassen, principal farmer at Nith Valley, has an amazing singing voice! She says “his harmonies are hand-on-heart beautiful.” I wonder if we could persuade Nathan to list singing telegrams along with turnips?
I’m sure by now you all know that Plan B is the place to go for Fresh Organic Imports like bananas, limes, and avocados, but I hope they haven’t been pigeonholed in your mind. Maybe give their Plan B Farm Kitchen items a try like their Salsa Verde, Kimchi, or Hot Pink Hot Sauce.
We have a lovely supply of Dry Sour Cherries from GreenFlorin right now. Described by Sarah Brodbar-Nemzer as “sour patch kids for adults!” LaPapampa continues to have four dollars off of four packs of dried mangos if you are looking for healthy snacks!
All Sorts Acres Farm
THE traditional feta. Made with sheep milk from neighbouring, Wooldrift Farm, this feta is the real deal. Ideal for salads, omelettes, as pastry fillings, or addition to a delicious cracker. Feta is such a versatile cheese, it should always be in your fridge. 150g tub in brine. Made by River's Edge Goat Dairy for Wooldrift Farm, the original milk sheep flock in North America - yeah, really.
Alchemy Pickle Company
2 litre growler, price includes $4 deposit. Brewed with organic nettle leaf and chamomile flowers, this light and tart Kombucha has a clear cranberry blush. These herbs are known for many uses in traditional medicines. Caffeine free. **Please return your empty growler to the market to receive your deposit back.
Forbes Wild Foods
Chaga Mushroom is known for both it's range of heath benefits and it's deep, earthy flavor. Usually prepared as a tea or drink it's supporters are many and varied. Carefully gathered and dried, this product will last for years in the cupboard, waiting for use.
La Mexicana Foods
Mushrooms, guajillo peppers, onion, garlic, Mexican spices, salt, vegetable oil
We have a lovely supply of Dry Sour Cherries from GreenFlorin right now, described by Sarah Brodbar-Nemzer as “sour patch kids for adults!” LaPapampa continues to have $4 off of four packs of dried mangoes if you are looking for healthy snacks!
I’m looking at all the variety from All Sorts Acres as I write: Pickerel, Kefir, Sheep Milk Soap, Chicken Noodle Soup, Lamb Chops, Felting Kits, Pecorino Cheese, Dryer Balls… Their page looks like a mini farmers’ market inside of our market! Everything Jennifer and Tim bring us is superb and I must assume you will find something on their page that piques your interest!
Congratulations to James and Jessica on the arrival of Jackson James Harley, born on January 11th. Could this be the first of a third generation of Harley farmers?
Now the birds are calling…
Until next time,
Anne and the Market Crew