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updated Oct. 29, 2010
ever get that nagging feeling?
Join us this Saturday, Oct. 30:
- GHOST RIVERS WALK! Join Helen Mills on a tour of Riverdale’s hidden and lost urban Toronto waterways. Meet at the market info table at 11 a.m. for a half hour tour. The walk is free, but donations are welcome (Lost Rivers is a program of the Toronto Green Community: http://torontogreen.ca/).
- HALLOWEEN DRESS REHEARSAL and SPOOKY CRAFTS! And yes, we'll have TREATS for the trick or treaters (some form of Halloween attire must be worn to qualify for a treat)!!!
- ANNA PRIOR'S INSTANT PHOTO BOOTH - get a picture taken with or of your little ghouls, goblins, witches, princesses, cow-boys and -girls, superheroes, and other Halloweeners! And dressing in Halloween costumes is not just for the kids.
In your community: Councillor Fletcher and the Friends of Withrow Park are organizing a Pumpkin Parade for November 1 in Withrow Park. Bring your jack-o-lanterns to the main pathway that runs from Hogarth to Strathcona any time after 5:30 p.m. “We will line the pathways with jack-o-lanterns and keep them lit until 8:30. Light up the pathway with your pumpkins for everyone to see."
Special announcement: Greenbeltfresh.ca is doing a market shopper survey with the objective to assist farmers’ markets in planning to better serve the needs of shoppers. The survey can be accessed at www.canview.com/3704. After completion you will be eligible to enter a draw to win $100 market dollars that can be spent at your favourite farmers’ market.
updated Oct. 14, 2010
Starring this Oct. 16 market day: greens (salad mix, kale, chard), beets, onions, carrots, sweet potatoes, more tomatoes, Brussel sprouts and cabbages, winter squashes, and more seasonal veg, as well as meats, breads, pastries, prepared foods, coffee, dog treats, hand-made soap, and more.
Music: Leigh Robinson is entertaining us one more time this season with the soothing sounds of his hammered dulcimer this Saturday.
In the larger east-end community: the Beach Studio Tour starts this Friday, Oct. 15. For more information visit http://www.beachstudiotour.ca/.
Continuing this week: National Organic Week - join members of the Canadian Organic Growers Toronto chapter in fantastic activities celebrating National Organic Week (Oct. 9 – 16). Various associated events include a fundraising concert (MC-d by “Apples to Oysters” author Margaret Webb), a photo exhibit documenting organic farming (with photos by Anna Prior), Planet in Focus documentary film screenings, and a community garden potluck and Kitchen Table Talk discussion about food. For detailed information and tickets visit http://cogtoronto.org/COG_Toronto/Events.html.
updated Oct. 7, 2010
It is time to loosen your belts and go for the elastic waistbands: Happy Thanksgiving!
This market day get all you need for your holiday dinner, including pumpkin pies and cranberry sauce. Turkeys will be available only to those who have pre-ordered, but there will be large chickens to have instead.
Music: Montague Street - http://www.montaguestreet.net/.
updated Sept. 29, 2010
This Saturday, Oct. 2, we are happy to host some of the Beach Studio Tour artists: Katharine Crighton fine artist, Julie Clark photographer, John Dowding photographer, Karen Franzen ceramic artist, Nathalie Vachon fine artist, and Jane Saracino handbag designer. There will be a couple of art demonstrations, too! Karen Franzen will be making some clay birds, and Nathalie Vachon will bring along her easel and paint. For more information on the Beach Studio Tour, participating artists and other details visit http://www.beachstudiotour.ca/
The Beach Studio Tour artists will be joined by jewellers Pamela Kearns and Lynn Dutton.
Allison had so much fun at the market a couple of weeks ago (and so did many of you) that she will be back creating some positive spin with her hula hoops: http://www.createpositivespin.com/.
Music this week will be provided by Mark-Jan and his Ukulele!
For the kids: this Saturday's crafts are all about transportation and origami! Remember: the market season is not over until the kids have had their Halloween Dress Rehearsal on Oct. 30. Pumpkins will be carved on Oct. 23 so that the kids can enjoy them a whole week before candy night. Until then, there will be a large variety of crafty activities at the market.
updated Sept. 24, 2010
Unfortunately, it is indeed fall, and the proof is in the absence of Feast of Fields. Our fruit vendor is the first to leave the market, but that is the way of food and seasons. However, show stopping produce for the fall season are squashes - lots of varieties of sweet buttery and nut flavoured winter squashes (great for storing, stews, bakes, desserts), carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, greens (kale, chard, lettuce, spinach), not-so-regular potatoes, until-the-frost-do-us-part tomatoes, cabbages (red and green), peppers and so much more. The harvest wagons keep rolling in and bringing great food!
A quick update from Small Potatoes Farm: this week we've got more butternut squash, peppery nasturtium leaves to add to your salads or make pesto with, bright Swiss chard and small but flavourful celery.
As one of three FarmStart farmers at the Withrow market, we'd all like to invite Withrow customers to our fall fundraising harvest meal. Held this coming Sunday, September 26, from noon to 5, tickets are $75 per person (children under 12 free) and it goes to a wonderful cause: helping to keep the McVean farm going! These farmers are learning their trade and trying to enhance the local food system. The food will be spectacular and all the proceeds go toward FarmStart's next season of growing organic. For more information visit http://www.farmstart.ca/mcveanfarm/ or call Cherie at 519 823-7046 ext. 103.
I must have gotten my weekends mixed up, but this Saturday is fresh poultry day – brought to you by the Webers. Of course, you will find other types and cuts of meat here, too, and if you like Angus beef, visit Field Sparrow Farms’s table.
The Good Food Conspiracy Co. is bringing more “foods that conspire to challenge your worldview (or foodview) with more from our mainstay raw and roasted food oeuvre including our special Saturday market switch-up spreads and salads for this week: extra "Quinoa Queen II" tabouli with assorted colour sprouted quinoa, Queen Anne's Lace (wild carrot), bergamot, infused with garam marsala and dark raisins - Mesoamerica meets British India in a tasty take-away tub. There’s still more beloved "Labna Love" fermented pomegranate-green chile dip, and a new feature: our vegan "Cubist Chicken" salad - our wild take on the French classic coq au vin with earthy chicken-of-the-woods mushrooms, capers, sweet Vidalia onions and tart apples. A Picasso-worthy poulet creation that really does taste like chicken! Also, more "Red October" our slow food, local homage to a roasted red pepper relish that hails from the Balkans."
Danbrie Farms is returning this market day with more maple syrup, and Brian Hamlin will rejoin us with honey on October 2, as will Sheena Dash with her Sitting Dog treats.
Also on October 2, we will have our last art and craft fair of the season - a preview of the Beaches Studio Tour - and details will be posted on our web site home page as well as announced in next week’s newsletter. So, if you have a wedding, birthday, or other festive (or not) reason to be a gift-giver (or receiver), this may be the right opportunity for you. Music will be provided by Mark-Jan and his Ukulele!
For the kids: the market season is not over until the kids have had their Halloween Dress Rehearsal on Oct. 30. We are making a little revision to our Oct. kids crafts schedule and will carve pumpkins on Oct. 23 so that the kids can enjoy them a whole week before candy night. This week, however, we are keeping things tropical: kids can make a colourful rainforest vines to beautify the home with. Also joining us this Sat. are staff from the Toronto Public Library!
Music this week is brought to you by Leigh Robinson with his hammered dulcimer.
In your community: the Toronto Public Library’s Riverdale branch is celebrating its 100th birthday on Oct. 2 and you are invited! Please visit branch or http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM58142&R=58142 for details.
updated Sept. 16, 2010
poster by Good Food Conspirator Milijana Mladjan
We have a bunch of things planned for the kids: the kids crafts team is organizing a scavenger hunt (starting at 9 a.m.!), a couple of pinata smashings (the 1st at 10:30 and the 2nd at 11:30 or thereabouts) with pinatas decorated by kids the previous Saturday, face painting, and a last performance by Buttons the Clown (10:30-11:30).
Have a bike that needs some TLC? Bring it on Harvest Fest for free bike tune-ups by folks from Bike Sauce located at 717 Queen E., east of Broadview. For more information on the group visit http://bikesauce.org/. Have questions or concerns about cycling in the city? Chat with members from Toronto’s Bike Union (http://bikeunion.to/) and grab a free bike map (also available at the market info table).
As announced previously, a special aural treat this Saturday is brought to us by members of Darbazi, a Toronto-based choir that performs “beautiful and rousing polyphonic music from Georgia, the mountainous crossroads of Europe and Asia. From horse-riding and field songs, to lilting love songs and exquisite sacred music, the timbres range from spine-tingling yodeling to haunting drones.”
A small group of Darbazi singers will be performing a short selection of songs at the market starting at 9:30a.m. to promote their upcoming performance at the Small World Music Festival on Friday Sept. 24, 8 p.m. (Mazzoleni Auditorium, Royal Conservatory of Music, 273 Bloor St. W.; tickets: $25 advance / $30 at door). The choir will be joined by the “spectacular and gravity-defying Georgian dance troupe Kakheti.” For more information visit the Small World Music Festival at http://www.smallworldmusic.com/ or Darbazi at http://www.darbazi.com/.
Two different groups will focus on trees: Not Far From The Tree is looking to expand its inventory of Riverdale fruit trees. Speak with hub coordinator Chris Sharp about how you can help. The Leslieville/Riverdale Tree Project is connecting home-owners with free native trees with the purpose to clean the air and provide shade in our respective neighbourhoods. Find out how you can benefit and help everyone breath better.
It is always a good time to talk about organics and the state of the movement. Members of the Toronto chapter of the Canadian Organic Growers are always happy to have a chat with you.
The Riverdale Historical Society will take us on a time travel trip with old recipes, and tell a food story of the area.
Allison from Positive Spin Hoops is returning with hula hoops for everyone’s enjoyment (for participants as well as watchers). Everyone can hula hoop, even those who say they can’t! Check out Allison’s blog: http://www.createpositivespin.com/
Our list of craft show participants is growing and will include some old and new faces and crafts like jewellery by Pamela Kearns www.peyotedreams.ca, Breeze Romain www.ecofinery.com, Lynn Dutton, Barbara Showler-Lewis, and Michelle Poplar; handmade bibs and aprons by Alice Hiller www.bibbitybop.com, pottery by Lynn Heath, photography by Anita Barber, and more.
There may also be some other Harvest Fest surprises!
updated Sept. 9, 2010
Absent this week: LPK’s Culinary Groove is missing this market day, and Sheena Dash and her Sitting Dog treats will be at market every other week. Both are returning Sept. 18.
Danbrie Farms is returning this week with more freshly bottled maple syrup.
For the kids: decorate pinata shells to be smashed into smithereens on Sept. 18! Kids can make little goodies to put into the pinatas, too.
Music: Montague St. is returning for one last performance this coming market day, and if you would like to keep abreast of future performances of the duo, then check out http://www.montaguestreet.net/.
Join us for our Harvest Celebration, September 18! Meet community groups working to make Riverdale a greener, healthier and friendlier neighbourhood. Some of our guests will be the Riverdale Historical Society, the Leslieville/Riverdale Tree Project, Not Far From The Tree, Canadian Organic Growers’ Toronto chapter. Take advantage of free bike tune-ups courtesy of Bike Sauce, and drop by for a chat with members of the Bike Union and pick up a free bike map. Allison returns with her ever-so-popular hula hoops to create a bit of positive spin, and we’ll have a bunch of stuff to do for the kids, too (including face painting and a scavenger hunt). A special treat for this market day will be a short, but very vocal performance by members of Darbazi (Georgian folk music), as well as a craft fair.
updated Sept. 3, 2010
Can you believe Labour Day weekend is just ahead, and that school starts Tuesday? It’s been quite the hot and steamy summer, and we’ll be celebrating back to school and back to work with the fruits of the labour of our hard working farmers and other food producers.
The weather is going to be perfect for roasting a chicken, and the Webers are bringing them fresh this weekend (every other week, as a matter of fact), and some fresh duck, too! Other choices include pastured pork, grass-fed and -finished beef, cured meats, and pastured chicken eggs.
There are still loads of tomatoes (for canning, saucing and fresh eating), corn, watermelon, berries, peaches, grapes, beans, peppers, and much, much more.
One reason to look forward to cooler days is Sol Maya’s hot chocolate, but for now, you can still count on coffee beans (whole or ground) and a fresh cup of the brew.
The Good Food Conspiracy Co. is continuing to innovate: "No labour and all love this weekend with one last Saturday of our Labna Love -- an Egyptian pomegranate-green chile dip. Our raw vegan take on this classic includes fermented cashew cream yogurt, pomegranates (an Ayuverdic tonic for the heart), orange blossom water, mint, a touch of fiery green chilies, kissed with aromatic grains of paradise spice, nasturtium petals, and local ruby red Stag sumac berries. We'll have a nut-free vegan version available this week made with fermented fresh young coconut cream. Also, stay tuned for a cornucopia of harvest-inspired creations throughout September and October, including assorted wild autumn mushroom pâtes, fermented and pickled foods, and so much more...like another new item next week!"
LPK’s Culinary Groove is back this week with their gluten free spread of desserts, and so is Mesey with Ethiopian vegetarian meals.
For the kids: This Saturday we will be decorating "light switch covers" (out of cardboard) with a Eco friendly theme. With slogans like “Turn me off when you leave please!” or “Shut the light, over night!”
Music: Weather permitting Leigh Robinson will rejoin us with the relaxing sounds of his hammered dulcimer.
Upcoming events: September 18 we pay homage to summer and the season’s bounty with a Harvest Celebration. This is, of course, a free community event, and some of the highlights are free bike tune-ups, a sneak performance of Darbazi (must-hear Georgian folk songs), the Riverdale Historical Society will be giving out historical recipes that can be used now, a whole whack of things to do for the kids, a fair-sized craft show, and more.
updated Aug. 26, 2010
Another beautiful summer weekend is on its way, and with it more produce and other goodies. Here’s some of the bounty you can expect:
Sosnickis Organics will bring more watermelon: “black sugar babies, and tiger stripe too. Both sweet red with seeds. Ben will also have lots of tomatoes, sweet corn, onions, peppers & garlic for all Withrow customers!”
Monforte Dairy is serving up scoops of the most amazing vanilla sheep's milk ice cream! It is truly fantastic and worth making exceptions to the no-treats-before-lunch rule.
If you’ve delayed making a peach & blueberry crisp, you’re getting close to missing your chance. Feast of Fields says the peaches are near the end, but there will be more pears, plums, maybe blackberries and raspberries, and wild blueberries for sure. All are a great complement to Monforte's ice cream...
Small Potatoes says: “This week basil basil basil - store your pesto for winter. Some nice fennel, some (small!) celery. The regular salad mix and Swiss chard... Tomatoes keep coming - so should you!”
The Good Food Conspiracy Co. continues to dazzle with new product: "Bringing some spreadable love this week with our new summer spread: Labna Love. Our fermented raw dairy-less version of this exotic Egyptian dip with sexy pomegranates, mint, fiery green chilies, grains of paradise, kissed with raw orange blossom honey, nasturtium petals and lots of amore naturally. Plus, more of our regular good raw, vegan and gluten-free food fare. Eat your (he)art out!"
Sheena Dash was a bit surprised with how her oven-dried dog treats (made with organic organ meats) have flown out of her basket, and she’s bringing more for this Saturday.
Unfortunately, LPK’s Culinary Groove is missing the Saturday markets this week because they will be at the Live Green Toronto Festival all weekend. Visit http://www.toronto.ca/greentorontofestival/ for info.
For the kids: We’re opening the hangar for you and your tots to try your hand at engineering and aeronautics. This market day it’s all about paper airplanes – decorated by the engineer!
Music: Leigh Robinson returns with his hammered dulcimer… sweet sounds for a sweet summer park picnic…
McVean Farm is opening its gates to the public again this coming Sunday August 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tour the farm, go on tractor rides, enjoy fun farm activities with the kids, taste some produce and fresh prepared treats. And all this farm fun is FREE to you and your family! McVean Farm is located 1km north of Hwy 7 (Queen St. E.), on McVean Drive (west side) in Brampton. See link for location and directions: http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=McVean+Incubator+Farm&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=FfHZmwId_xxA-w&mra=ls&sll=43.768305,-79.684353&sspn=0.010289,0.019333&ie=UTF8&z=16. Visit www.farmstart.ca/mcveanfarm for more information or call 519-836-7046 x 103.
updated Aug. 20, 2010
Ben Sosnicki from Sosnicki's Organics is bringing “lots and lots of fresh, full, sweet cobs of Sweet Corn this week! An abundance of tomatoes, onions, zucchini, beans too!”
Feast of Fields is arriving with peaches, plums, blue seedless grapes, pears, raspberries, blackberries, wild blueberries, and bunches of cut roses.
The Good Food Conspirators are announcing "one last week of our very popular, surreal vegan Dilly-Dalí Tzatzaki, before we move onto another select summer spread. Made with fermented cashew cream (full of probiotics), fresh dill & mint, and wild cucumbery kin: cattail hearts and blue borage flowers. Also, this season's sweet juicy tomatoes deserve to be smothered in our organic greens-packed raw vegan Impasto Pesto (meaning "thick" in Italian). This calcium-rich con artist with kale-arugula-basil-spinach-lamb's quarters is unlike any other. Available with black walnuts or with hemp (nut-free)."
This Saturday we are catering to your pooch with more than a bowl of water: Sheena Dash makes dog treats that are chips made from organic liver, heart and kidneys. “There is absolutely nothing else added, it's just pure organ meat. The chips are oven-dried so they are more fragrant than freeze-dried.”
Other goodies for humans (or poochy under the table) include an ever changing selection of cheeses from Monforte Dairy, breads and pastries by St. John’s Bakery and Saucier Foods respectively, meats from the Webers and Field Sparrow Farms, copious amounts of veggies from all the farmers, gluten free desserts from LPK’s Culinary Groove, coffee from Sol Maya, preserves from the Riverdale Food Working Group, and handmade soaps from Essence Dew.
We are building a new tradition at the market: a monthly craft fair. While you are picking up your treats and groceries this Saturday, peruse some of the hand-made wares of your fellow Riverdaleians.
For the kids: paper bag puppets!
In the neighbourhood: Movies in the Park presents “Some Like It Hot” with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis; Sunday Aug. 22, Riverdale Park East, at dusk. A little Marilyn Monroe never hurt anyone... www.moviesinthepark.wordpress.com
Other announcements: CULTURE VIBE is holding a fundraiser for RESULTS Canada in support of their efforts to end extreme poverty in developing countries: August 20, 8:00pm – 1 a.m. at the Peridot Resto/Lounge, 81 Bloor St. E. Tickets are $25/person and are available through a RESULTS Toronto volunteer or at the door! Featuring a silent auction, a grand prize draw for two tickets to Toronto City Lights Cruise, and live entertainment, including Congolese Gospel Group Génération Des Vrais Adorateurs, Spoken Word Artist Yusra Khogali, and Jazz Singer Luwam. Hors d’œuvres will be served. Cash bar. For more information please visit www.resultscanada.ca or contact 647-883-0701/sahararosek@gmail.com.
updated Aug. 13, 2010
Sosnicki Organics’ Ben and Jessie are sending word that their “fresh, sweet-not-starchy certified organic Sweet Corn is coming to Withrow this week! Along with a nice selection of field fresh tomatoes, onions & peppers too!” I have tried the corn this past week, and it is sweet and tender with a slight crisp. Definitely worthwhile the wait!
Also worthwhile the wait, and something that needs to be taken advantage of are all the heirloom tomatoes flooding in. Haystrom Farm, The Fresh Veggies, and all our other farmers are harvesting the fruit (make no mistake, tomatoes are classified as a fruit) and bringing it to you. Roast them, oven dry them, preserve them, freeze them, eat them fresh. If you don’t know what to do with all that delicious goodness, visit Fine Cooking magazine’s web site and do a recipe search: http://www.finecooking.com/.
“From Small Potatoes this week: more zucchini and squash flowers, purple Cherokee tomatoes, leeks, sweet salad mix, rhubarb and flower bouquets. Now's the time to chop and freeze rhubarb so you have some over the winter for a quick crumble!”
LPK’s Culinary Groove’s Spicy Chèvre Noir Shortbread Cookie won the “Best Spicy Dessert in Toronto” contest through Harbourfront Centre and their Hot and Spicy Food Festival. LPK’s CG will be appearing at the festival Sunday Aug. 15 from 5-6pm at the Lakeside Terrace, demoing the cookie and handing out samples. The cookie is delicious, so please have a taste of the winner and judge its spiciness according to your personal heat chart.
Good news from the Good Food Conspiracy Co.: "Unexpectedly, more of the very popular Chanterelle Belle -- wild mushroom raw vegan pâté -- made possible again by newly foraged fruity fungi from the forests of Niagara (we thought the season and our luck were over 2 weeks ago)! And, also part of our Summer Spreads Series, another week of Dilly-Dalí Tzatziki -- a surreal organic vegan version with fermented cashew cream, cool garden cucumbers, wild cattail hearts & blue borage flowers. It sold out last week, so we'll have more on hand this week! Also, more of our raw Monochrome Macaroons in stock (chocolate-ginger and lemon-almond). Plus, all of our other Good Food conspiratorial staples: ARTisanal raw flatbreads, subversively delicious spreads, and sublime sweets."
Returning this Saturday is Mesey with her popular Ethiopian vegetarian ready to eat or take away food.
At market this Saturday: music by Montague Street - http://www.montaguestreet.net/; Nia with Jennifer Hicks, 11:30-12:30 - http://www.jennhicks.ca/Nia.html.
For the kids: egg carton bird feeders (gotta love those egg cartons!).
updated Aug. 6, 2010
It’s that time of year again: the Taste of the Danforth is upon us, and if you are staying in town this weekend, we would love your company!
LPK’s “Spicy Chèvre Noir Shortbread Cookie” won the “Best Spicy Dessert in Toronto” contest through Harbourfront Centre and their “Hot and Spicy Food Festival”. LPK will be appearing at the festival on Sunday August 15 from 5-6pm at the Lakeside Terrace, demoing and sampling the cookie.
There are heaps of Ontario organic produce and locally prepared foods coming our way, and if you can’t eat it all, then this is a good time to stock up for the winter. Speak to our farmers to see if you can make bulk orders of produce (like tomatoes for canning). They will be more than happy to accommodate you if they can.
The Webers are thinking about bringing cuts of lamb to market this Saturday, and will do so if they get them back in time from the butcher. There will be graded eggs as well as other choices of meats.
This week Small Potatoes Farm is bringing zucchini and squash flowers, great for stuffing with ricotta cheese or pan frying in olive oil. We'll have a few fennel and more ground cherries as well as salad mix, oyster mushrooms, leeks and more bounty -- eat well!
Small Potatoes Farm, The Fresh Veggies and Manmeet Singh grow at the McVean Incubator farm where you're invited to an open house Sunday, August 29 - see details at http://www.farmstart.ca/mcveanfarm/.
"This week, as part of the Good Food Conspiracy Co.’s rotating summer selection, we've dreamed up another raw, vegan, very local, surreal spread, in good time for the Taste of the Danforth festival: our Dilly-Dalí Tzatziki. Our classically-inspired tzatziki with crunchy organic cucumbers, fresh mint & dill, Cretan olive oil, in a fermented cashew cream base is not your everyday (Greek) garden variety, we've added some wild cucumbery kin to the mix: tender cattail hearts (also called "Cossack's asparagus"), one of the best wild sources of vegetal protein with tons of minerals too, and also brilliant blue borage flowers to restore burnt-out adrenals (and beiged-out eyes!). When Greco-harvest goddess Demeter collides with artist Salvador Dalí, a tub of dill-iciousness results! $5/250 ml tub."
For the kids: this is a repeat of our popular egg-carton caterpillar making activity.
Music: we are welcoming back Alex Hickey, with her poetic, to the point and thoughtful lyrics.
This Saturday we are hosting the Health and Strength Action Group. The group is composed of folks who live, work and play in south Riverdale, and who are trying to make their communities healthier and stronger. The group’s activities include participating in the Put Food in the Budget Campaign (to raise social assistance rates so that people can eat healthy food), and trying to make the TTC affordable and accessible to more people. Membership is open to anyone who wants to get involved. The group is based at South Riverdale Community Health Centre. More information: Susan Bender 416-461-1925 ext 353.
In the neighbourhood: Dusk Dances continues into Sunday, Aug. 9. For more information visit http://www.duskdances.ca/2010Season_withrow.html. The Riverdale Historical Society has announced its fall schedule. For details please visit http://riverdalehistoricalsociety.com/.
Coming next week, Aug. 14: music by Montague Street - http://www.montaguestreet.net/; Nia with Jennifer Hicks, 11:30-12:30 - http://www.jennhicks.ca/Nia.html.
updated July 29, 2010
This week's fresh news is a sample of our latest e-newsletter:
Withrow Park Farmers’ Market News for July 31/10
Hello market friends;
We are ready to say goodbye to July with '''more, new and exciting produce arriving this Saturday: more cucumbers, more heirloom tomatoes (cherry and beefsteak sizes, and anything in-between), okra, potatoes, peaches, beans, etc, etc, etc. ''' The Webers and Field Sparrow Farms are back, and that should put a smile on any meat-lover’s face.
We know some fresh corn on the cob is in the works, but don’t know yet who will be first to bring it. Ah, the market is like a mystery grocery bag: you never know what you may find. Actually you do: there are always yummy surprises!
Absent this Saturday is Jay Thoman from Danbrie Farms, so if you are running low on maple syrup, hold the pancakes until next week, when Jay returns.
Good with pancakes (or on cereal, ice-cream, or whatever your taste-buds desire): wild blueberries! You can find them and other juicy sun-sweet fruits at the Feast of Fields table.
Laurel sends word that “Small Potatoes Farm this week has... small potatoes! Red and white ones. And a curious delicacy: ground cherries! Plus the usual organic lineup.” And if you always wanted to spend some time in a farmer’s shoes (or boots), there is an exciting internship opportunity with farmer Laurel for outdoorsy vegetable lovers. Please see the posting at the end of this news-mail.
The Good Food Conspiracy Co. folks are announcing "more wild golden chanterelles this week = another Saturday of Chanterelle Belle, our raw organic velvety-vegan chanterelle pâté foraged from the forests of Niagara with fresh tarragon, chives, laced with chardonnay wine and white truffle oil ($5/250 ml tub). And, if we have any leftover, we'll work them into a rare baked good we do, our classic gluten-free Gauguin Galettes-Bretonnes, buckwheat breakfast pancakes from Brittany topped high with wild mushrooms, chèvre, apricots and frisée. Savage and sweet, like the long-dead artist himself. Also, next week, after a long hot July, hopes of finally introducing our raw vegan icecream"
You will see a new vendor face at the market this Saturday because we are welcoming another FarmStart farmer to market. Manmeet Singh grows veggies along Small Potatoes and the Fresh Veggies. We are looking forward to Manmeet joining the Riverdale and Withrow market community.
For the kids: We are tickled pink to welcome Buttons the Clown to yet another market! Buttons will entertain big and small, old and young, with her witty ways and sunny disposition. At the crafts table kids and grown-ups can put their engineering skills to test with paper airplane construction! Make one, fly one, and share your favourite childhood paper airplane design.
In the neighbourhood: Dusk Dances return to Withrow Park from August 3 – 8. Please visit http://www.duskdances.ca/2010Season_withrow.html for more information and times.
To see a full list of our vendors please visit our vendor page at www.withrowpark.ca.
Come for the food, stay for the perks!
See you at market,
Roberta --- market coordinator
Eating locally starts here… every Saturday 9-1, until October 30, rain or shine!!!
updated July 22, 2010
Starring in July: peas, broccoli, cherries, raspberries, wild & domesticated blueberries, kale, tomatoes, Asian greens, beets, chard, apricots, beans, peaches, cucumbers, and all sorts of wonderful edibles!
Correction: free Saturday morning yoga sessions with Christine are finished for the season. For other opportunities to yoga with Christine please visit www.wenmarbyoga.com.
Join us this Saturday July 24 for our special guests the Riverdale Historical Society, potter Karen Franzen, jeweller Barbara Showler-Lewis, and Henna Planet's body art with Tarquin Singh.
In the neighbourhood: Movies in the Park presents Tremors on Sunday July 25 (postponed from July 18) at 8:30p.m. in Riverdale Park! This is a free event. Please visit http://moviesinthepark.wordpress.com/ for more information.
updated July 16, 2010
What's happening July 17:
- For the kids: make a classy pet rock; have fun with Buttons the Clown (10:30-11:30)!
- Music: Singer and song writer Alex Hickey: http://www.alexsings.ca/alexsings_home.html.
updated July 1, 2010
Coming July 10:
- Montegue St.: musical duo composed of Laura (saxophone) and Mark (guitar and vocals).
- Nia with Jennifer Hicks: shake that booty to cool tunes, have fun, get shapely, and sweat it sisters and brothers. You have hula hooped, now let’s Nia! 11:30a.m. – 12:30p.m.
- The North American Native Plant Society is coming back for a visit! Details to follow in next week’s e-news.
updated June 24, 2010
Coming this Saturday June 26: cherries & raspberries, beets, broccoli, peas, and much much more.
We are a G20-free zone! Come spend the morning with us!!!
We're trying to pull together a mini craft/art show for this market day, but our artisan friends are a bit rain shy, and we are still waiting for confirmations. In any case, for all the Saturday rain in the forecast, we've been enormously lucky. We're taking a gamble every week, come take a risk with us: rain or shine!
Presenting this Sat.: singer and songwriter Alexandra Hickey! Check it out: http://www.alexsings.ca/alexsings_home.html
updated June 18, 2010
This week Laurel from Small Potatoes is bringing mushrooms, and Bob from the Fresh Veggies is bringing fenugreek. Haystrom Farms is also adding fresh greens to the table, and Sosnicki Organics will continue to bring juicy sweet strawberries for a few more weeks.
The market always offers an opportunity to learn about and try new things. Visiting a farmers' market is a culinary and social experience, even when it rains.
Our special guest this and next Saturday (June 19 & 26) is Tarquin Singh from Henna Planet. It’s supposed to be hot this market day, so we hope to see a lot of skin which you can have covered with one (or more) or Tarquin’s beautiful designs. Take a look: http://sites.google.com/site/bodyartbytarquin/gallery
Craft Show: June 26, as well as July 24, August 21, September 11 and October 2 we are hosting artists and artisans. We will let you know who’s coming when in coming newsletters, as well as the web site. Don't receive the newsletter? Subscribe at the link below.
Singer songwriter Alexandra Hickey is coming back to share her tunes with us on June 26, and more music is on the way in coming weeks.
In your community: Movies In The Park is organizing free community movie screenings, and on Sunday June 20, you can watch “The Great Outdoors” with John Candy and Dan Aykroyd in Riverdale Park (great to watch with the kids!). The Rooster Coffeehouse is providing treats. For more information go to http://moviesinthepark.wordpress.com/author/moviesinthepark/
For the kids: You and your child can make a card for dad or anyone else you think needs a little token of appreciation. Any donation to the craft table goes towards art supplies, and we thank you for your support so far.
Our kids crafts volunteers are sharing the table with the Broadview Community Youth Group who will be offering information on their summer camp programs. Visit http://www.bcyg.ca/ for more information.
updated June 10, 2010
Breaking News: Summer returns to the market June 12 with STRAWBERRIES! They're local, they're sweet, and they're all yours.
Visiting Saturday June 12:
Engineers Without Borders demonstrating a treadle pump.
The South Riverdale Community Health Centre's Outreach Team advocating to Put Food in the Budget.
Nia with Jenn Hicks - a fun cardio workout for every body - 11:30-12:30 (also returning July 10 & August 14).
For the kids: the Toronto Public Library Pape & Danforth branch will do interactive activities from 10:30-11:30.
updated June 4, 2010
Returning this Saturday: Haystrom Farm with home-grown produce preserves, LPK's Culinary Groove (vegan & gluten-free desserts), and Webers Meats.
Starting June 5 at 9:30: free Saturday morning yoga sessions with Christine. Please wear comfortable clothing. Sessions are canceled if raining. Sessions continue June 12, 19, and 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, and August 7, 14, 21 and 28.
Coming June 12: Nia with Jenn Hicks, 11:30-12:30. Other opportunities to join in Nia exercises: July 10 and Aug. 14. It's fun, it's rhythmic, it's for every body!
For the kids: on June 12 from 10:30-11:30 the Toronto Public Library Pape & Danforth branch team is joining us again! Bring the kids for some interactive activities with the amazing library staff. This Saturday: make a spiral snake mobile with one of our fantastic volunteers!
updated May 28, 2010
Coming May 29: Toronto Public Library Pape/Danforth branch kids activities 10:30-11:30 a.m.; North American Native Plant Society and seedlings; Riverdale Historical Society; Allison and her hula hoops 10-noon!
We are introducing and happy to announce: MONFORTE DAIRY artisanal cheeses; CAFE SOL MAYA coffee roasters.
For the kids: the theme this week is around leaves and family/community - we will be doing a magical leaf drawing using real leaves and rice paper and kids will make their family tree.
updated May 19, 2010
Join us for Spring Fling, our first market day on May 22, kicking off season 4!
Highlights of the day are:
FREE City compost provided by Councillor Paula Fletcher: bring your own shovel and containers and take it away. Councillor Fletcher will by dropping by at 10 a.m. as well.
Have seedlings to give to good home? Bring them to the community seedling swap! The swap will be ongoing throughout the day, and is open to all gardeners. Unfortunately, due to concerns about termite migration, we cannot accept transplants, but only potted seedlings that have not come out of the ground around your property. Sorry.
CANADIAN ORGANIC GROWERS are back for a spring visit to share the latest in organic news with you.
There's a new bike gang in town! Meet the folks from BIKE SAUCE: they'll do spot tune-ups and some small scale repair work, so bring your bike by for some post-winter TLC.
Get some fancy bling from jewellers Barbara Showler-Lewis, Breeze Romaine, and Pamela Kearns, photos from globetrotter Jan Amell, or a henna tattoo from Tarquin.
For the kids: decorate a container and plant a little garden. Participate in creating a market mural - this is an activity for the whole family: add words or images to the mural that reflect your experience of the market. New this year: kids can choose a colouring book to work on throughout the season whenever they visit the market.
Best news last There will be fresh local seasonal produce: radishes, greens, asparagus, salad mix, Swiss chard, potatoes, onions, etc. Also: St. John's bread, Saucier Foods gourmet fare, meat, maple syrup, pastries and treats, raw foods, and coffee.
Content last modified on May 13, 2011, at 08:26 AM EST