Withrow Park now has Friends!

Fresh News!

posted May 19, 2012

Is this what you've been waiting for? - Saucier Foods

Enter our contest for a chance to win cool prizes! Eating Their Words: Culinary Prose That Makes Your Mouth Water See details here. Here's what's on the menu for our first market day: Free Compost! Courtesy of councillor Paula Fletcher. Pick it up at the north-west corner of the Park (Logan and McConnell) by the tennis courts. SEEDLINGS (& loads of them) from Urban Harvest, Riverdale Meadow Community Garden and Cultivate Toronto. SEASONAL PRODUCE: rhubarab, asparagus, salad greens, micro greens, kale, chard, and way more!

PRETE-A-MANGER: gluten-free vegan samiches, Indian vegetarian, fish tacos, Ethiopian vegetarian, delish pastries, and sausages for the omnivores!

NEW PRODUCTS: olives & olive oil (Country Meadows Organics will be joining us in early June), eggs: quail, duck, goose, turkey (chicken, too), Guinea fowl, Ontario lake & farmed fish, doggy treats!

MAY 19 SPECIAL GUESTS: BikeSauce - free bike tune-ups until 11:30, Toronto Master Gardeners, 29 Bikes, Friends of Withrow Park, Canadian Organic Growers, Young Urban Farmers - mushroom logs, Soap du Jour, Project Neutral Riverdale.

FOR THE KIDS: face painting with Dina Belaia, market scavenger hunt, and kids can grow: seedling pot-up!.

MUSIC: cheerful melodies by Ezra (violin) and Derick (Celtic harp).

RETURNING OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS: Sosnicki Organics, The Fresh Veggies, Country Meadows Orgnics, Potager Du Kanada, Au Bon Hectare, Feast of Fields, and Erin Wood (corn - back in late July).

IN YOUR COMMUNITY:

Aquafit at Frankland CC, starting Thursday May 16, 8-9 p.m.

RIVERDALE ARTS & LETTERS CLUB May 16, 6 p.m., Toronto Public Library - Riverdale Branch, 370 Broadview Avenue: mystery novelist Howard Shrier and his new Riverdale sleuth book “Boston Cream”, discussion and book signing. The event is free and open to all!

Announcing the 2012 EDIBLE GARDEN CONTAINER PHOTO CONTEST! Visit Toronto Balconies Bloom for details.

Have a free local community event you'd like posted? Contact us at info[at]withrowpark.ca. Please make your submission at least 2 weeks prior to your event date.

Peak into our '''Stale News" cupboard further down this page for events, activities and good food you've missed.

perhaps they are no more than babies right now, but they will be amazing once they are fully mature

Adopt A Tree in Withrow Park We now have over half a dozen new trees in the market area, and more are coming to the park next spring!! Once the last installment of the planting is done the park will have received about 100 new trees. As you likely know, new trees need some tender loving care and water. The trees are being looked after for the remainder of this season, but in the spring we will be looking for volunteers to adopt a tree(s) to take care of and make sure it survives and thrives. If you are interested in adopting one or more trees please contact the Friends of Withrow Park Trees Group at withrowtrees[at]bell.net to be added to a list of tree adopters. As we get closer to the spring we will be assigning trees and we will give you basic instructions for tree care.

Musicians/Buskers wanted!

If you live in the neighbourhood and like to jam, bring it to the market! Non or minimally amplified classical, folk or pop music, vocal or acoustic, is welcome, but let me know you want to grace market folks with your music: info[at]withrowpark.ca.

Even if you don't live in the hood, but love to play to an appreciative crowd, our market patrons will toss coins or bills in your hat or guitar case. Come join our lovely community and liven it up with tunes and tricks.

The market encourages community groups and non-profits to apply for a spot at the market to promote their programs free of charge. Unfortunately, although we work with elected officials in the promotion and development of the market, we cannot host political parties. To get an application, please e-mail info[at]withrowpark.ca.

Stale News!

Riverdale Food Working Group SPRING WORKSHOPS

Composting and Vermicomposting - Learn about some really easy and effective ways to compost in your backyard, on a small scale and with worms. Thursday, May 3, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., South Riverdale Community Health Centre, 955 Queen St. E., R.S.V.P. by Monday April 30.

Exploring the Soil Food Web and Compost Tea - Find out how you can improve your soil fertility, reduce plant disease and improve your garden in almost every respect. Thursday, May 10, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen St. E., R.S.V.P. by Monday May 7.

R.S.V.P. Information: by phone: 416-461-1925 ask for Wanda; by email: riverdale.food.workshops[at]gmail.com PWYC – All are welcome!

Container Gardening for Beginners (sponsored by the Toronto Green Community) Tuesday May 8, 6:30p.m. to 8:30p.m., Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre, 86 Blake St., in the Adult Lounge Register by Monday April 23 with containergarden2[at]gmail.com or call 416-392-1750 x 307. (All proceeds go towards the work of the RFWG.) For more RFWG workshops visit rfwg.wordpress.com

posted April 19, 2012

WITHROW PARK CLEAN UP Join the Friends of Withrow Park on Saturday April 21 from 10a.m. – 2p.m.! Gloves and garbage bags will be provided. Just a few minutes can make a big difference if we all pitch in together!

While you are at the park you can pick up some compost for your garden. Councillor Fletcher has arranged a delivery of free compost. Thank you Councillor Fletcher! (More City compost will be available on market opening day, May 19.)

The Friends will be collecting old iPhones to donate to Hope Phones, so this is a great chance to de-clutter some of your electronics.

FREE MOVIE SCREENING - Forks Over Knives – Thursday April 26, doors open 6:30 p.m., screening at 7; East End Community Health Centre, 1619 Queen St. E. (at Coxwell). Contact Jackie at 416-778-5805 x 220.

Like to dance? Like to read? JANE AUSTEN DANCING: danceweavers.ca/janeausten.html

posted March 28, 2012

Join the Friends of Withrow park on Saturday, March 31st from 8:30-9:30PM for an Earth Hour celebration. Turn out the lights and enjoy our beautiful park. Enjoy a campfire with songs and stories. Gaze at the stars through a telescope.

posted March 8, 2012

The countdown to market season is on!

SPRING UPDATE We are experiencing some vendor turnover. The exciting news is we are welcoming Tiffinday (take-away Indian food), Country Meadows Organics (olives & olive oil, eggs, fresh produce & more), Au Bon Hectare (veggies & flowers), and Cookstown Greens (veggies) to our market community, and we are still reviewing more applications. LPK's Culinary Groove is developing new and delicious gluten free goodies (savoury & sweet)! The sad news is that Sol Maya and This Ain't Your Mama's Bread won't be rejoining us this year. We'll keep you posted; market season's just around the corner!

posted February 14, 2012

WINTER MARKET UPDATE

Dear market friends:

We have decided to hold off on the winter market until this coming fall. We will start making plans early and capitalize on the momentum from the summer market to carry us forward. This winter has been a bit crazy, and was not very conducive to new project implementation. For project planning, however, it has been amazing so far!

posted January 5, 2012

Due to unforeseen circumstances we've had to delay the opening of our winter market until February. We sincerely hope to have some more definitive news for you soon.

Thank you for your patience and best wishes for a Happy New Year from the WPFM team!

posted November 25, 2011

We've been doing our research, spoken with potential community partners, and are getting closer to our goal for a winter market. At this time it looks like we won't start until January 2012, but when we do, we'll have a cozy and yummy community hang-out for you. We so very much appreciate your patience with this process!

posted January 06, 2012

Sign the petition and SAVE THE FRANKLAND COMMUNITY POOL!

Save Frankland Pool on Facebook, on Twitter, http://kidscounttoronto.ca/.

posted January 05, 2012

Shinny for kids 13 and under on the Withrow Park rink this Friday, Jan 6th from 9:00 - noon.

Up for some time travel? Click here.