Thank You ‘Dufferin-Grovers’!

HELP US KEEP THE MARKET GOING

 

Help Keep the Market Going <3

Yes indeed folks – because of your kindness and generosity, we are more than halfway towards our $10,000 goal! However, we do still need your help, so please continue with any amount you are able to contribute.

Our Board of Directors thanks you as well for your support – and I am therefore including this letter from our treasurer, Judith, to provide you with further information as well.

From our board:

“Dear friends of Dufferin Grove market. First of all, let us say an enormous thank you to all of you who answered our call for help last week! The huge groundswell of kindness and generosity from the market community has been overwhelming.

In one week, we have collected almost $6500 in donations, already over halfway to our goal. It is inspiring to know how much you appreciate and believe in all the market stands for. Thank you so much.

We also know that many of you have questions as to how we found ourselves in the position of asking for help. The answer is not simple or straightforward, but here are some factors that have contributed. Like all non-profit organizations, the market has always operated on a very tight budget, and there have been other times when the kindness of friends has made the difference between breaking even and not. COVID didn’t help, but the market kept going through two very difficult years, providing a place where farmers could sell the food they produce, and customers could continue to buy the best, freshest food there is.

The online market was a great success, but it must be said that it couldn’t have succeeded without the generous support and assistance we received from St. Anne’s church.

This year we are trying to provide a live, in-the-park market for all of us who love that experience, and an online market with home delivery for those who prefer or need that service. And this has proved more expensive than we anticipated. Delivery costs are higher than expected. Insurance costs are higher, just to name a couple. 

Also, the market believes that every person deserves not a minimum or basic living wage, but a decent living wage. In Toronto that means our payroll costs are going to be higher than average. We are also committed to keeping costs down as low as possible for our vendors, because we know that farming is a difficult and precarious way to make a living.

We could have covered some of our excess costs by raising table fees, or the fees we charge for administering the online market, but we are trying very hard to avoid that.

All these factors, together with money owing to us from CRA and grant money that is withheld until late in the year, combined to make 2022 a very difficult year.

Fundraising will continue to be an ongoing endeavour moving forward, as it is with most non-profit organizations. We have lots of ideas for ways to raise money while creating fun for everyone. Stay tuned here for more information!

Thank you again for the tremendous outpouring of support and affection you have shown to your market in the past week. We are truly grateful! And if you haven’t donated yet, it isn’t too late.

Donate Now

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors, DGFM”

*For any further questions please contact our new Chairperson, Sonia Vaillant: sonia@dufferingrovemarket.ca

Ok, and now on to food and market stuff – yay! 

So I think I’ll start with “CORNucopia”! (Because how could I not?) Not only is it a fun word to say, but with so much amazing corn among us, what a delicious time of year this is!

And last week, if you missed out on Greenhouse Eatery’s roasted corn, (which completely sold out), they’ll be doing another  giant corn roast this coming week! And thanks to their generosity, all of the proceeds will go as a donation to the market – thanks Audrey!!

But if you prefer to buy fresh corn, and cook it later, we’ve got you covered! Both Sosnicki Organics and Kooner Farms have plenty to go around. Featured in this pic, is farmer, Ben Sosnicki, holding a fresh-picked cob from his farm – but don’t worry, he promises to bring more!

Or maybe you prefer your corn popped – not a problem! Nature’s Way has you covered – hot and fresh, popped right in the park! Or, take a pre-popped bag that’s ready to go.

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But I must also mention the delicious onions from Aldergrove! Gotta love those summer onions! And Fraser (and crew), have just the right variety to nicely compliment any stir-fry, or whatever else you desire to make.

And speaking of onions, anyone care for a good ole fashioned flashback? Haha! So I’m thinking of a 2018 newsletter I wrote asking, “What vegetable do you think, best describes you?” Well if you recall, (for myself), I chose onion – gotta love those layers! And if you actually do recall that newsletter, bless you!

And lastly, I just couldn’t resist this pic, of Sammy, from Summergreen, having “fun with fungus”! But I do also loove oyster mushrooms – so tasty in a saute! (Photo taken by Aanastasia, who kindly volunteered some of her time to the market last week – thank you Aanastasia! 🙂

Alright, so now that I’ve got you getting your shopping list ready for next Thursday, amazing! But I’d also like to share with you, some community happenings as well.

 

First, is an informal community supper, being organized by a dear friend of the community, and former staff of the market, Heidrun. In her note, she states:

 

”For keeping community spirit alive let’s meet for a picnic Friday, 6pm at Dan’s Tables beside the big bake oven. Bring – or not – some finger food which you could share with your neighbours.

Remember everything is still closed, so cutlery, knives, plates, or cups … are NOT available.

See you there and then!

-Heidrun / heidrungk@directbox.com”

 

And for those of you wanting to “tune up” your home reno and plastering skills, this cob workshop may be for you. The cob house, for those unfamiliar, is the little structure (featured), just near the playground area. Some of you may have noticed the workshop also happening last week (during the market.) Maysan, the organizer, states:

 

“The cob wall surface (lime plaster) needs patching every year – so that the cob below (mud and straw) stays structurally sound. To revive this skill in the neighbourhood, long time friend of the park/cob Michelle Webb, will lead a workshop at 3:30pm on August 4 at Dufferin Park. All neighbourhood people are welcome. 

We will have gloves on site. Wear comfy clothing that covers arms and legs if you want to give plastering a try.”

Looks like fun, huh?

 

Thanks again folks, and see you Thursday!

With bells on,

-Nicole

 

VENDORS (in-person) _ August 4, 2022

Farmers, Dairy & Meats:

  • Reyes Farms
  • Greenhouse Eatery
  • Aldergrove Farm
  • All Sorts Acres
  • Sosnicki Organics
  • Kooner Farms
  • Nith Valley 
  • Nature’s Way
  • Plan B Organics
  • Essa Seedlings
  • Summergreen
  • Bees Universe
  • Monforte Dairy 
  • First Fish
  • Rogers Ranch

Prepared Foods:

  • La Mexicana
  • Tapioca Toronto 
  • Magic Oven
  • Earth + City
  • TC Tibetan Momos

Bakery, Preserves, & Specialty Items:

  • Robinson Bakery 
  • Lev Bakery
  • Forbes Wild Foods
  • ChocoSol
  • Jiggy Popz

 

Wine, Cider & Brewery:

  • Heartwood Cider