Why support organic farms you ask?
Apr 18, 2019
Hello market friends, Yes, I know – like most of the wonderfully loyal folks who read this newsletter, you probably said, “so many reasons!” Very true. Perhaps the most obvious, is that without organic farms, organic farmer’s markets could not exist. I was pleasantly reminded of this when I looked at the program for our upcoming annual “Market Manager’s Day” conference, organized by the Greenbelt Farmer’s Market Network. This year’s keynote: “Bringing Community Together Through Food”. Many concepts came to mind, as I started to think... Read More
Pollinators, Seeds, & Seedlings
Apr 11, 2019
Hello Market Friends, Early April is time to start thinking about seeds to plant in gardens everywhere. What have you been dreaming about over this icy, snowy, freezing, rainy winter? I have been imagining butterflies and bees sucking nectar from gorgeous zinnias, phacelia and black eyed susans and in their quest for food, pollinating everything along the way. Here’s what our neighbour Clement Kent, a pollinator expert writes: Pollinators (bees, birds, butterflies, flies) are important to thousands of species of flowering plants that... Read More
April Excitement
Apr 4, 2019
Hello Market Friends: On the farms, greenhouses are filling up (that’s one at Marvellous Edibles above), and behind the scenes at Market HQ, things are getting crossed off the to-do list for the outdoor market season. The excitement is building! Many people are starting to ask when the market will move outdoors. We won’t move down to the path until sometime in May, but throughout April you’ll find the vendor list getting longer, and some vendors who just can’t wait setting up outside along the building. Here’s... Read More
More Spring!
Mar 28, 2019
Hello Market Friends: Lots more signs of early spring to get excited about! The WWOOFers* at Marvellous Edibles tried their hands at tapping trees this week, and the results are sure to be sweet. The forest is magical at this time of year, when snow is still on the ground but we know what the flowing sap means. Syrup makers are reporting a good season so far. Ask our market sources of maple syrup, Seth and Blythe, for more information. Cécile Beaudry will be a visiting vendor this week, introducing her “Taste of Seasons” nut... Read More
Let’s Celebrate Spring!
Mar 21, 2019
Hello Market Friends: On Thursday March 21st, the day will be 12 hours, 11 minutes and 31 seconds long. We can officially say we have made it through to another spring, and the cycle is beginning again. That means it’s time for a party! We are marking the Vernal Equinox with a celebration. The vendors will be offering free samples of their wonderful wares while supplies last. We hope you will bring a friend and enjoy some goodies on us! Our newest farmer-vendors, Olivia Huber of Huber’s Wildwood Farm, and Mike Madden of Thor Farms... Read More
Out with the Cold, in with the New
Mar 14, 2019
Hello Market Friends: I took my annual photo of the first snowdrops today, so that makes it pretty official. We are on the brink of a new season! Please help us spread the word, and invite your friends along next week, when we will celebrate the Vernal Equinox, that tipping point when light wins once again! Jason Kun of Island Oysters will be shucking fresh oysters with his special panache, and a full house of vendors will be offering free samples of their delicious wares. Be there!! This week, we’d like to introduce you to another... Read More
March Brings Good Things
Mar 7, 2019
Hello Market Friends: March brings fresh energy and excitement. In just two weeks we will celebrate the Vernal Equinox with a special First Market of Spring. It’s coming….Stay tuned for details! In the meantime, we have a lot of visitors this month: Market volunteer Lianne Holland will be doing a little cooking demo this week, and offering tasty samples to market-goers. With All Sorts Acres‘ departure til May, and the freezers at Marvellous Edibles close to empty, meat is in short supply at the market, but two interesting... Read More
So long February!
Feb 28, 2019
Hello Market Friends: Well, we’ve made it through to the end of February. What keeps you going through the depths of winter? For me, it’s craft projects, cozy meals made from the good things at the market, flowers in the window, and planning for the outdoor season ahead. This week’s photo was taken by Aimee Bourque during a blizzard in Halifax. She says, “Not only is this a fun science experiment, but you better believe I’ll be cooking these little shoots. Green onion, Napa cabbage, onion and garlic are all... Read More
Small Really is Beautiful
Feb 21, 2019
Recently, market friend Mark S. has been sending me links to sobering articles about the global decline in insect populations. Although there are many causes, the great increase in pesticide use and the loss of small-scale family farms (which tend to have weedy bits and hedgerows instead of huge mono-cropped fields) are frequently mentioned as reversible factors in this decline. We need organic, restorative food production, not as a ‘lifestyle choice’, but as a survival tool. We need the knowledge of farmers like the ones at our... Read More
Love Your Market
Feb 14, 2019
Hello Market Friends: Canceling the market last week was unprecedented, and we hope not to be repeated! A handful of brave folks turned up at the rinkhouse, and we’d be delighted to recommend that they sign up for the market news so we can reach them if ever we need to. This time, we are digging out from under, and keeping our fingers crossed for a temporary reprieve from the stormy weather so everyone can re-stock pantries and refrigerators — and share the love! What’s Valentine’s Day without chocolate? Happily, we don’t have to... Read More