Forsythe Family Farms 2009 Inc.

The New Year is coming

2011-12-30T10:38:00.006-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day. We were busy with family from breakfast right through to dinner and managed to have a relaxing time at church. It was a pause that refreshed helping us focus on the reason for Christmas. We're very fortunate to have Jim's parents still with us, his Dad is 92 and misses being out selling the trees. We had to be careful not to wear them out with all the festivities.

Our farm and market is closed until the first weekend in May. Winter is our pause in the year, a time to reflect on the past season, rest, re-energise and plan for the new season to come. We're working on our barn in Greenbank with a future market in mind as well as considering which crops to add next year.

Tis the season of conferences, workshops and farm shows. I'm researching hedgerows that would add beauty, diversification for wildlife and possibly some interesting berries for jams. Lynda and I will be getting together to make our shepherds pies, steak and mushroom pies and possibly some more turkey pies. The winter will go by very quickly.

May your winter be short and sweet. Stay safe.
See you first weekend in May when the fun and food begins again.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas is coming,

2011-12-20T06:10:00.004-05:00

the goose is getting fat, please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny a half penny will do. If you haven't got a half penny then God bless you.

Is the tune running through your head now? I remember my Grandfather telling me of the time when he was a boy that he had to memorize this verse and say it at the front of his class. His family were homesteaders in Saskatchewan and lived initially in a sod house while the wood house was being built and the land was being cleared. Oh how I miss him at Christmas. It can be such a family time, a time to reminisce of years gone by.

We have had a great Christmas season seeing you and catching up with the events in your year. The kids are growing - off to school, finished school, getting married, grandchildren being born. We've been selling Christmas trees for 25 years now and some of you have been coming for that long.

We have exciting news - Heather, our wee petite staffer that you'll see mostly in the bakery when she isn't in school, is now engaged to be married to a wonderful young man Thomas. We're so happy for them. She'll be working the 22nd and 23rd so if you stop in, give her your best.

We'll be busy these next few days baking and organizing turkeys. We still have some beautiful balsam and fraser fir Christmas trees and you can still order a fresh turkey. Our lives can be so busy that for some it seems Christmas has snuck up on them and oh my gosh its only 6 days away.

Thanks for taking this moment to read this blog. As another famous charactor at Christmas says-
Merry Christmas. God bless you one and all.

Christmas is almost here!

2011-12-09T08:45:00.006-05:00

Wow, how time has flown - Christmas is in 2 weeks.

We've been busy decorating, baking and making our turkey and chicken pies. The meat pies are now available in our freezer. They're a great quick meal solution for busy times.

Fresh Turkeys

Don't delay in ordering yours. We've got our order book ready and waiting. I don't tend to have extras at Christmas so it is best to place an order. We will also have really large turkeys available this year - great if you're having a big gathering or just love left overs.

Christmas Trees

The Fraser fir and Balsam fir trees are beautiful and we've got a nice selection. On the warmer days it smells like we're in a forest. Both types of trees are good choices at this time - the Fraser fir is recommended if you leave your tree up for a long time and need strong branches for all your ornaments. The balsam fir has an amazing smell but does tend to drop its needles after a few weeks - I like to keep it up for only 3 weeks. We will not have spruce or pine trees this year due to lack of demand.

We've also have wreathes and cedar roping; I love the greenery this time of year.

Christmas Cookie Platters

are brimming over with shortbread, gingerbread, mini tarts and more. Don't you just love an occasion that gives you reason to indulge in some delicious goodies. These cookie trays are great for office parties, as hostess gifts or just as a thank you to those special in your life.

We love Christmas and we enjoy helping make it more special for you. We're open daily till Christmas eve day. We'll then be closing for the winter and reopening the first weekend in May.

Have a very Merry Christmas and may you have many blessings in the days to come.

Christmas Trees are Here!

2011-11-27T10:46:00.007-05:00

Oh the excitement of Christmas and the anticipation of enjoying the wonders of the season. We love the tradition of bringing nature into our home with the beauty and smell of a fresh Fraser fir. We choose the Fraser fir because of it's good needle retention for the room we put it in is a warm one and it does have a nice scent but the best scent comes from the Balsam fir tree.

With regular watering we find the Fraser fir is a nice long lasting tree - at least 4 weeks inside and the Balsam fir is good for approximately 3 weeks indoors. We'll give your tree a fresh cut so you can put it up right away.

This will be our 25th year that we have fresh cut Christmas trees at the farm. Fraser fir and balsam fir trees are now available along with wreathes and cedar roping. Hot cider is waiting for you in the market along with other Christmas goodies, shortbread cookies are baking and our Christmas cookie platters will be available early December. I'd also recommend the Kawartha Dairy Eggnog - it is so creamy!!!

Time to Order Your Fresh Christmas Turkey
We've got our order book ready and waiting. I don't get many extra turkeys in for Christmas so it is best to get your order in early. We're taking orders for fresh baked pies as well.

Our Turkey and Chicken Pies will be ready by Dec 3rd.

Our last batch of fresh Chickens will be in the market Friday December 2nd by 1pm.
Let us know if you would like us to set some aside for you. We'll be calling everyone on our Chicken list this week as well.

Tiem to stock up the freezer for winter with our naturally raised pork and beef. Our gluten free pork sausage, naturally smoked hams and bacon are now in the display freezer. Our beef will be ready soon, it's just aging for about another week. Food makes for a nice Christmas gift for those who have everything.

The Chickens are Coming

2011-11-10T16:10:00.002-05:00

We will be getting our second to last batch of our fresh chickens back from the processors this Tuesday, November 15th and Geri and I will be in the market from 10am till 1pm. Even though we are not officially open Tuesdays in November you are welcome to come in during this time to get some. We will be reopening Thursday from 9am till 5pm.

If you are unable to come in Tuesday and would like us to save some for you please call the market at 905-887-1087, wait for the beep at the end of our message and then leave us your name, phone number and the quantity and approx size of chicken you would like. We'll set them aside for you.We are putting any unsold chickens into the freezer Thursday night.

Our last batch of chickens will be in approx 2 weeks. If your name is on our chicken call list we have already started phoning. If you would like us to remove your name from our contact list please let us know.

Countdown to Halloween

2011-10-28T19:08:00.008-04:00

Wow... 3 more days or sleeps (whichever way you want to look at it) to Halloween. We've got some special activities planned to make the last weekend of our Harvest Festival special. Come on out and enjoy. We've still got a good selection of pumpkins in our Pumpkin Corral and field.

The farm is much better when you dress for the weather - boots, warm coats, hats and mitts are recommended. We have had rain this week but most of the farm isn't mucky, just in some spots. Being open to the wind you'll also find we're a few degrees cooler than the city. There is lots of fun to be had so don't let the weather spoil it.

Northern Spy Apples are here!

We waited till after the frost and now spy apples along with russet apples are available in a limited supply in our market. Get them before they're gone.

We're open until December 24th

Enjoy the peacefulness on the farm following the festivities of October. Our farm animals love to visit and the wagon rides and Enchanted Forest are open the weekend of Nov 5th and 6th. Our farm is open Thursday to Sunday 9-5 in November except for Sunday November 6th we are open 1:00pm till 5. Kennedy Rd is closed that morning for a fund raising marathon run.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

2011-10-18T15:46:00.003-04:00

Wow, too bad the Thanksgiving weather hasn't stuck with us. The weather isn't that bad if you dress for it, so don't let it stop you from enjoying the farm. Our pumpkin corral is filled with pumpkins of all sizes; so many to choose from.

Our Harvest Festival is in full swing each weekend in October. We put last weekend with the rainy Saturday to good use and TA DA we now have a NO LEFT TURN MAZE for your enjoyment. So come on out, there is lots to do.

It's Party Time October 29th and 30th
Join us the last weekend before Halloween for some extra special party fun. We've got some extra special activities for the kids planned for this weekend along with the special Harvest Festival activities. Let's end October on a high note and party, party, party!!!!!!

Thanksgiving

2011-09-30T06:24:00.002-04:00

is just around the corner. Get your order in ASAP for your fresh, free range, grain fed turkey. We still have some available but don't delay.

OCTOBER HARVEST FESTIVAL

Our festival begins this weekend and we've got lot's of fun stuff for the family. Come see our new puppet show, peddle around our speedway and tricycle track, there's lot's to do. Sounds like the weather is cooling off so dress warmly and wear boots. We've had some rain.

Apples, Apples, Apples

2011-09-20T06:13:00.005-04:00

Fall is almost officially here, it sure feels like it. Each year it seems that our favorite apple is ready so late in the season but apple season is now upon us. We're now finished with the early apples - Paula Red, Ginger Gold and Jersey Mac. The fall apples have begun. Macintosh, Cortland and Royal Gala are available fresh picked in our market. Their crunch and flavour have been worth waiting for.
We'll soon have Honey Crisp, Empire, Mutsu and more - up to 10 varieties coming soon.

Thanksgiving Turkeys
Time flies and it seems faster in the fall when so much is happening. Thanksgiving is only 3 weeks away and will be here in the blink of an eye. Order your free range, grain fed turkey soon. We've got our order book ready in the market.

Fall is Fun on the Farm
The cool weather comes and everyone is out visiting the farm. You'll find some new additions this fall. Our tricycle track now has adult size trikes for Moms, Dads, Grandparents ... to join the kids riding around the track. They really do make you feel like a kid again.
We also have some kid size pedal karts for up to 7 year olds so they can join in the races around the speedway.
Our straw maze is being revised and will be ready soon, more challenging than ever. Come and join us for some fall fun. Our corn maze is back and is a fun challenge for all ages.

Tomatoes, Tomatoes and more Tomatoes
Seems there is a theme of bounty from the land. Our tomato crop has been fantastic this year and now is the time to enjoy them as well as preserve some for winter. The peak of the crop is here. The quality is fantastic and the flavour amazing - don't delay, who knows when frost will come and put the field to rest.

Join our fall farm team
We still have some positions open for outgoing, energetic people who would like to join us in presenting our farm to the public. If you enjoy working with the public and are looking for short term work then go to our employment page and come in for a visit. We'd love to talk to you. Please bring 2 references with you.

Markham Fair
Is right around the corner, literally. Always the weekend before Thanksgiving this 4 day fair is one of the biggest in Ontario and through the efforts of many volunteers from the community is a fair to be proud of. This will be our 22nd year(at least) of having a booth at the fair. Come visit us, we're at the east gate.

Corn Maze is Opening

2011-09-02T15:05:00.006-04:00

Labour Day weekend is always a special time - school will start right after it, holidays seem to be over and most everyone gets back into their fall routine. We make it a fun time here on the farm -
Our 2 acre Corn Maze opens officially this Saturday, come and get lost. The Enchanted Forest reopens, all our storybook characters have returned.

Introducing Pi - our new miniature horse.
She arrived Thursday Sept 1st and is looking forward to meeting everyone. You will find her in the pen right next to the cattle - Mud and Toots. Pi is approx. 2 years old and comes from Southwestern Ontario. Her owner was sad to part with her but happy she will be in a new home with lot's of new friends.
We ask that you not feed Pi any treats, horses have top front teeth and could bite. We will work on getting her used to us and possibly try having a regular morning time for her grooming. Once she has settled into the farm our farm hands and educators may have you help with the grooming.

Come on out for a visit soon. We're open Labour Day Monday with all the full weekend activities (weather permitting). It is a great way to end the summer. You can even stock up on some yummy lunchtime goodies. Paula Red and Gala apples are now available fresh picked. The sweet corn is still delicious - get some before it's gone.

August and Apples - Great Combo

2011-08-16T06:26:00.004-04:00

We've got the first of the crop of apples now available in our market. Jersey mac and Ginger Gold, so you have a choice - tart or sweet.
If you haven't tried the Ginger Gold apple yet I would highly recommend them for their flavour is exceptional for an early apple. I like them for I do like a sweet apple. It seems just as we convince people to try them their season is done and we move on to other varieties. Get in early so you can enjoy.
Remember that early apples don't stay crisp as long as the later varieties and do require refridgeration.

TOMATOES - What a crop we are anticipating!
I haven't seen such a beautiful crop of tomatoes ever. You may have seen some pictures if you follow us on facebook and twitter. We have started to harvest a limited amount but as it is in every year they never seem to ripen early enough. We should have a great supply in our market in about a week. We may even do pick your own here in Greenbank but it will be by appointment only if we do. Let us know if you are interested by dropping by the market or calling 905-985-6749 and leave a message.

Petra Kvitova visits the farm

2011-08-08T11:34:00.006-04:00

Sunday morning was a busy and interesting morning. Petra Kvitova, a tennis player from the Czech Republic, here for the Rogers Cup came for a visit along with Paula Newton from CNN. She wanted to learn more about Canada. Jim and Paula gave her a tour of our market introducing her to the local fruits from Niagara and telling her about sweet corn and the ways to enjoy it. Did you catch it on the CNN broadcast?

August on the Farm - More Enchanting than ever...

2011-08-03T16:58:00.004-04:00

We had a great day with our Celebrate Honey Festival this past Monday. Thanks to all who came out and participated. The staff had a great time presenting activities about bees and bee keeping and the honey sampling was popular. We still have honey available to sample for the next week or so, check it out next time you're in the market.
James took a bunch of pictures and will be posting them on facebook.

Our honey from our Markham Farm hives has not been harvested yet, the spring was so cool and wet that early production was down. All who are on our honey list will be called once we get our honey harvested and into the market.
Spring Blossom honey from our Greenbank Farm hives is now available in the market in a limited supply.

The farm is transforming for August. The characters from our Enchanted Forest have escaped from the woods and are scattered about the farm. Come on out and see. Your visit will be all that more enchanting.

Sweet Corn is here

2011-07-24T07:24:00.002-04:00

Ontario sweet corn has begun and is in our market. With this past months heat it is sweeeeet and delicious. We have a gourmet sweet variety of peaches and cream corn that gives you the long lasting sweetness of a super sweet corn but with a great corn flavour.

Summer is truly here.

The farm is enchanting

2011-07-16T09:35:00.004-04:00

The farm is enchanting in so many ways - the beauty of the harvest, the space of the countryside and coming up the release of the enchantment from our forest.

So many things are happening this summer - right now we have fresh chicken available in our market and peas and beans fresh picked or pick your own. Mmmm... nothing like fresh from the field. Raspberries are also available fresh picked in our market and sweet corn will be here by next weekend.

August will be enchanting - CELEBRATE HONEY Monday August 1st when we have bee related activities and honey sampling. Bees are amazing and the honey so sweet.

The August long weekend is the last weekend for our Enchanted Forest walk for the month of August. We close it for the month so we can do some freshening up. DON'T DESPAIR! The farm is taking on an enchantment of its own. Our wagon rides are still happening each weekend in August and we have some great surprises for you. Watch our facebook page for updates.

Berries are Fantastic

2011-07-01T15:15:00.004-04:00

The strawberry crop this year has been one of our best. The berry patch is loaded with berries and picking is quick, the flavour fantastic.
Fresh picked berries are available at our Markham farm and Greenbank, the pick your own in Greenbank only.

Sugar Snap peas are in the market for the first day. They taste great raw and with a dip but if you want to cook them just dip them in hot water. They are best tender crisp and can quickly overcook and go mushy.

Our Birthday Party program is taking shape and we are now officially booking parties. Check out our birthday party page and if you like what you see, give us a call.

Strawberries are here and Sweet Peas too

2011-06-25T21:58:00.008-04:00

Well, we actually started picking a week ago and opened our pick your own here in Greenbank on the 21st. Getting the berries into the market and getting set up for pick your own wiped away any thought of blogging about them.
My apologies.

We have an amazing crop of strawberries this year. There was no late frost so we were able to harvest our Wendy variety. Today we started picking Jewels, a nice sweet berry with a bit lighter red colouring than the Cavendish.

The rainy weather has put a damper on the pick your own but we've been slogging through and remained open here in Greenbank in spite of the weather. Sunday looks like a good weather forecast so we expect to be busy. Our season will extend another week at least and possibly two more. These cool nights slow down the ripening so they're not all ready at once. That's a good thing.

We've got lot's of fresh picked berries in Markham.

The sweet peas are available for pick your own in Greenbank now and our patch in Markham will be starting by the long weekend. They're sweet, sweet, sweet ....

Let's hope that next week's weather will be kinder to the pickers. Hope to see you soon.

Bee Pictures from the Workshop

2011-06-05T08:59:00.003-04:00

Chech out the C shaped larvae.

Getting stung and removing the stinger properly. Here's a drone, hold gently by the thorax. Opening and checking the hiveMelanie showing us a brood frame

These are some photos I took at the workshop

Introduction to Bees Workshop

2011-06-05T08:12:00.003-04:00

We've had beehives producing honey on our farm for over 20 years and in this time I've managed to pick up a lot of info from our beekeeper David. Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend an Introduction to Beekeeping workshop held at Dancing Bee Apiaries and led by the Ontario Beekeepers Association Tech Transfer Team.
It was a fascinating day. They covered most of the information necessary to start up your own hives and I gleaned lots of details to fill in my knowledge gaps.
Some of the session was hands on and I say hats off (better keep that hats on) to Tammy, Les and Melanie as they opened up hives for us to find the queen, see the brood, pollen and honey. Melanie showed us how to be stung and properly remove the stinger with venom pump from your skin.
It must have been premonition but I bought a better veil hat before the workshop started. Glad I did as the bees were not too happy to be disturbed on a rainy morning. Nothing more distracting than trying to listen and have bees crawling across the screen of your veil hat. A bee got inside and as I tried not to panic outwardly in getting it out I still managed to get stung. Can't complain when I hear Melanie tell us how she gets stung on a regular basis, I guess you get used to it.
Here are some interesting tidbits I learned.

All beehives in Ontario are registered and beekeepers have an amazing backup team of researchers, tech support and regulations to keep our honey source safe and flowing.

Honey bees are not considered aggressive, they are defensive and will not sting you unless you are threatening their home or them personally. If you are stung without any provocation it won't be from a honey bee.

I see the honey bees clustered around the rabbits water dish and now know they collect water to cool their hive by placing droplets around the inside and fanning for ventilation. Heat is absorbed with the evaporation. They don't drink the water, they get all the moisture they need from the nectar they collect.

Honey bees are a social insect with a structured hierarchy and specific roles for the workers, drones and queen. The whole colony overwinters (except for the drones) so they produce a lot of honey, some of which we can have. Other honey producers such as the bumblebee only produce small amounts of honey as only the queen overwinters.

There are many threats to the bees - disease, mites, insect infestation, predators such as mice or bears, climate change. You have to be passionate about beekeeping to work against the odds to keep healthy, thriving and productive hives.

All in all it was a really interesting and informative day. I've always had respect for the efforts of the beekeepers and a fascination with the bees. Not sure if I have the courage yet to start my own.
Next time you have a spoonful of honey thank the bees and the beekeeper!

STRAWBERRIES ARE LOOKING GOOD.

What goes better with honey than some strawberries. There are tiny fruit on some of the varieties and lots of blossoms. I could be a good year if the weather behaves. It won't be long before they're ready for picking - approx 1 - 2 weeks for the market, no more than 3 weeks for pick your own. Check around the 10th of June for fresh picked berries.

Did We Celebrate!

2011-05-23T19:55:00.003-04:00

Our Celebration of Spring was a busy one. We had beautiful weather Saturday and a good number of families enjoyed the bubbles, the animals, Dairy Farmers of Canada cow Moonica, walks in our Enchanted Forest and more.

The animals had a wonderful time visiting with everyone and eating lots of treats. Our sheep were sheared and both the sheep and the goats had pedicures, now they're prancing.

New baby goats born last Tuesday are doing well. One who just liked its mom's armpit has finally found her udder and bottle feeding is not as important for it's survival.

Sunday and Monday with the unsettled weather offered challenges to our visitors. They were rewarded with seeing the birth of 2 sets of twin goats. One pair was born on Sunday and the other Monday. Thanks to Adam who took the pictures today, you can see some of the action.

Lisa at Things to do York Region came Saturday and took pictures. Check out her site for lots of info on activities happening in York Region.

Strawberries will be in about 3 weeks. We have blossoms on our plants now in Greenbank. So far it looks like it will be a good berry season.

Can someone turn off this rain?

Sheep Shearing on Saturday

2011-05-17T21:24:00.003-04:00

My shearer has been booked to come Saturday around 11:00am to shear our sheep as part of our Celebrate Spring event in Markham.
Looks like the weather will co operate and give us some sunshine.

Celebrate Spring Victoria Day Weekend

2011-05-16T19:30:00.003-04:00

We just may see some sun, the forecast sounds better for Saturday than it will all week. We've been getting lots of rain so wear your boots even if it is sunny.

We've got lots of fun planned for this weekend.
This will be our first ever Celebrate Spring event and we've been planning for weeks.

Dairy Farmers of Canada will be visiting with Moonica for Saturday and Sunday. They've got some fun activities and you can even milk Moonica. Very realistic without the hazard of getting kicked.

Start thinking about clearing out your freezer to make way for the new harvest. We'll be have jam making demos throughout the weekend. Asparagus is now here, the rhubarb is coming on strong and before you know it strawberries will be here. So much to do, so little time.

The wind is wonderful at our farm in the spring, just great for kite flying. Our Barnyard Adventure area has no trees or overhead wires, perfect for kites.

Be creative and make your own bugs.

Celebrate the sun and plant a sunflower

Visit our new babies

These activities and more are available at our regular weekend admission price of $6.50+HST/person 2 yrs +.

Don't forget to sign up for our Pumpkin's Journey (details in the market)

Hope to see you this weekend.

Celebrate Mothers Day with our Moms

2011-05-03T18:40:00.003-04:00

Hurray, the sun shone for us on opening day. We were blessed to have some triplets born Friday night just in time for the kids to visit on Saturday. A single lamb was born to another mom Friday morning, it needs some bottle feeding to help it along as mom isn't too keen on feeding him. Today we had another set of twin lambs born and mom and babies are doing fine.

Celebrate Mothers Day with our moms. Admission is free on Mother's Day to all Mom's(Grandmas to) who come accompanied by their children. Our ewes would love to see you. Maybe we'll have some newborn goats too, one nanny goat looks really ready.

See you this weekend.

Season opening Saturday April 30th

2011-04-16T11:11:00.004-04:00

The date is quickly approaching and we're busy getting ready. The animal pens are cleaned out, the playareas are getting freshened up and Lynda and Eileen are busy getting the market ready. The last few days of sunshine have been a help. Myrna has been busy booking the school tours. We've still got some openings but they're filling up fast. England Trip James, Dan and I have just returned from a week long farm market tour in England. We explored the countryside with fellow Ontario Farm Fresh Marketers visiting farm shops from York south to London. Spring is about a month ahead there; the daffodils, cherry and apple trees along with the spring flowers were all in bloom. The weather was warmer than usual and we had lot's of sun. Denure Tours from Lindsay Ontario organised the logistics of the tour and Cathy, our fearless executive director of Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association researched and chose our stops. We enjoyed lots of sausage, some mushy peas, fish and chips and cornish pastries. With a morning tour of the city of York we were steeped in the history of the land. So many stone fences and hedgerows, lots of sheep and cattle grazing. The Yorkshire landscape was my favorite. We'll have pictures posted on facebook for you to see. What can we apply to our farm? First off you'll see more colour and more gardens. We'll add a few more activities through the season. It will take time to absorb and put into effect all we saw and want to do. One of the best things was getting to know our fellow Ontario marketers better. 4 New Kids in the Pens We've had 2 sets of twins born this week. Mom's and babies are doing well. They'll be in Markham for you to see them. Try to catch the babies springing about their pen. The energy of youth is very evident in the kids. Mother's Day Celebrate Mom's and bring her to the farm for a relaxing outing. Come visit our moms. Remember on her special day we give free admission to Moms when they come with their kids, old and young. Victoria Day Weekend James is organizing special activities this weekend for us to Celebrate Spring. Bring your kites, our barnyard adventure area is great for kite flying with no trees or overhead wires. We usually have a great breeze blowing especially in the spring. See you all soon.

SPRING IS HERE

2011-03-31T17:00:00.006-04:00

Winter didn't seem to take too long this year, it was a busy one. Check out our website for some new stuff. We are currently developing our birthday party program and there is a page for that. You can email us an inquiry and we'll send you out the information as soon as it is ready. CELEBRATE SPRING NEWSLETTER is on our website as well filled with lot's of information on our farm. Print it off and keep it handy for our produce availability guide and our events calendar. Try the yummy recipe. There is a link to our newsletter on the home page. JAMES IS JOINING US Our son James is now working on the farm with us. He is in charge of our social media and keeping us up to date on twitter and facebook. Are you our friend yet? As well he is persuing some independant enterprises raising some pastured poultry and a couple acres of crops including tomatoes. These will all be available when ready in our Markham market. James is also planning 2 events this season - Celebrate Spring on Victoria Day weekend with kite flying and more as well as Celebrate Honey Monday August 1st. We'll keep you posted about exact details. WE'RE OFF TO ENGLAND Farmer Jim will be holding down things here on the farm while I and the boys are off on a market tour in England. It will be exciting to see how the Brits do things and we hope to come home with loads of ideas. See you soon. We're opening Saturday April 30th.

Spring is coming

2011-03-10T16:24:00.003-05:00

A sure sign the winter is coming to an end - the birth of lambs. So far we have had 2 sets of twins and a single born to our ewes and there are more to come.
All babies are doing fine and holding their own in the flock.

Horse Crazy
It has all started with our son's girlfriends. They themselves would have nothing to do with horses, even been given the chance to have one. Their girlfriends are different. They love them.
So guess who arrived in our barns today-two Arabians. They are a mom/daughter team called at this time Monet and Lily. I have been assured that they are of lovely temperament. My son concurs as he feels he risked his life helping to load them for transport home.
He still has a healthy dose of fear (slowly turning to respect) for the animals.
Oh what they do for love.

Lily and Monet will star in our birthday party program called Crazy for Horses. We are currently developing a comprehensive birthday party program for our Greenbank farm that will allow people to enjoy our farm while celebrating their child's birthday. Be on the look out - more details to follow.

This winter has been a busy one with conferences and workshops attended in the USA and Ontario. I and 3 of my staff just completed one on birthday parties, we're saturated with amazing ideas. It is an exciting time to set forth on a new venture and we're looking forward to presenting it to you.

Yikes! 10 days till Christmas Eve

2010-12-14T15:13:00.004-05:00

The season just flies by. I hope all of you are enjoying the coming of Christmas and not too stressed with all the preparations.
Our tree sales have been going well, we still have some beauties - Fraser Fir, Balsam and Scotch Pine.

There is still time to order your turkey. I am very limited on small ones but have some in the 18lb plus range. This can all change because they are still all living and weights are only certain once they are dressed and ready for dinner. Give me a range of 4 lbs in order to have one that will fit your needs.

We're still baking. The Christmas cookie trays are very enticing and yummy. They make great hostess gifts, take them to an office party, or just enjoy at home for dessert. Place your pie orders for the 24th so you won't be dissappointed. We close at 4 pm Christmas eve and reopen the first weekend in May. I try not to overbake because I get to eat whats left.

Our turkey pies are ready and we'll have our chicken pies done by this Friday. They're delicious and make for an easy meal.

This may be the last blog before Christmas. I'm already booking our workshops and conferences we want to attend this winter. I'll try and keep you posted on what will be new for next season.

We wish you all a very merry Christmas with all the joy the season can bring. Stay safe this winter and we'll see you in the spring.

MMMM The tastes and smells of Christmas

2010-12-07T14:39:00.004-05:00

Shortbread cookies, mince tarts and pies, the smell of a Christmas tree; oh the traditions of Christmas.

It's one of our favorite times of the year.

Our farm and market is now open daily until Christmas eve day.

We still have apples, carrots, squash and other Ontario produce available, we're baking our pies, and there is a beautiful selection of fresh cut Fraser fir, Balsam and Scotch Pine Christmas trees to choose from - anywhere from 3 ft to approx. 12 ft.

Fresh, Free Range, Grain Fed Turkeys
are available by special order. They'll be ready for pickup December 23rd and 24th. Get your order in early so you won't be disappointed.

Kawartha Dairy eggnog is in. We think it's the best you'll ever taste. Place your orders for eggnog and pies for the 24th as I try to sell out. This way you won't be disappointed.

DECEMBER HOURS

Beginning Dec 6th
Mon to Wed 9:00 till 7:30
Thurs to Sun 9:00 till 6pm

Dec 20th to Dec 23rd 9:00 till 6:00

We are closing for the season Friday Dec 24th at 4:00pm and will reopen the first weekend in May.

Christmas Trees are here

2010-11-18T16:19:00.004-05:00

We've got some beautiful trees now and more are coming on Saturday. Frasers, Balsam and Pine so far. The smell is amazing. We'll be starting to look like Christmas soon. Cedar roping will be available as of Friday November 19th.

Our Last batch of Roasting Chickens are in
the market. We'll put them in the freezer as of Saturday the 20th. Supplies are very limited so come ASAP. We're open in November Thursday to Sunday 9 till 5.

Farm'n Fun
The animals are still here welcoming visitors. It is starting to get cool so dress warmly - our playgrounds are open.

Christmas baking
will be available approximately December 1st. We don't like to crowd out the American Thanksgiving. Mince pies, tarts and cookie trays are something sweet to make your holidays a treat.

Order your Christmas Turkey now
Christmas comes fast and it seems to take so long to get everyone organized. Start planning dinner now so you won't be panicking last minute.

Stock up on Squash
Our crop of squash is looking great and we have great prices. Time to stock up. We've still got a nice selection of Ontario produce. Check out our market for end of season specials.

Celebrate the Coming of Christmas with us.

Enjoy the peacefulness of November

2010-11-02T14:57:00.002-04:00

Our farm and market is open Thursday to Sunday in November from 9 till 5 (except the 7th when they close the road till 1pm).

We still have a good selection of apples including Spy's for baking and other produce in our market along with apple cider, pies, preserves and more.

Christmas Turkeys
We are now taking orders for fresh, free range, grain fed turkeys for Christmas. You can never be too prepared.

LAST CALL FOR ENCHANTED FOREST
Our wagon rides and Enchanted Forest will be closing down for the season Sunday November 7th. Come out and enjoy a quiet walk in the woods. Our farm animals and play areas will still be here till the end of November and into December, depending on the weather.

KENNEDY ROAD CLOSED SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7TH FROM 8AM TILL 1
Don't be disappointed. Come after 1 pm to visit the farm as the road is closed till then for a fundraising marathon.

Halloween is coming soon!!!

2010-10-21T16:15:00.004-04:00

10 days till Halloween!!!! Our Harvest Festival is on for the next two weekends so come and enjoy. Bundle up when they're calling for city temperatures below 15 degrees as we are close to 5 degrees cooler here at the farm.
Pony rides are here October Sundays from 11:00 till 3:00 as long as the weather permits. They will not be here if it is raining.

SPY APPLES ARE HERE!!!
Calling all bakers. We now have spy apples available - by the pound, 1/2 peck 1/2 bushel and bushel. We have them for a limited time only, once our bin of spy apples is gone, it's gone.

Looking forward to the Coming of Christmas
Our farm and market is open until December 24th. Enjoy Christmas baking, fresh cut Christmas trees and fresh Christmas turkeys.

Pumpkin Harvest Festival

2010-10-13T08:19:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. The weather couldn't have been better.
Time to change our focus to PUMPKINS!

Our harvest festival is now in full swing each weekend in October with a lot of fun activities. We've worked hard this summer to bring in new activities for you to enjoy and they've been well received. Our pedal karts are always in use, Billy Goat Mountain, our new slide has received rave reviews and the wagon train brings lots of smiles to people's faces - it's great for the toddlers.

Check out our website for complete details on our festival.

Honey Crisp apples are on special until October 15th for $1.49lb or as long as supplies last. A good chance to try them - they're very juicy with a sweet hint of watermelon flavour.

We hope to have mutsu apples available this week. They are great for eating and baking.

Don't forget that our farm is open until December 24th. We also have fresh turkeys available for Christmas.

Enjoy the fall, it's been beautiful so far.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-10-05T15:38:00.003-04:00

Thanksgiving is almost here. Our market looks like it with the displays overflowing. We are fortunate there is so much good food grown in Ontario.

We are open daily through till Oct 31st then Thursday to Sunday in November then daily in December till Dec 24th. October is a busy month with our Harvest Festival each weekend including Thanksgiving Monday.

PONY RIDES each October Sunday and Thanksgiving Monday from 11-3.

We now have over 5 varieties of apples fresh picked in the market, including Honeycrisp.

Order your Thanksgiving Turkey now!

2010-09-15T14:05:00.003-04:00

Time is flying and Thanksgiving will soon be here. It's time to start preparing. We've got our order book ready so order soon.
Our turkeys are free range, grain fed and delicious.

APPLES HAVE STARTED
Macintosh apples are now here along with Gala and Empire. More varieties will be arriving soon. They're starting to press apple cider and that will be in our market Thursday September 16th. A great start to the fall season.

FALL FUN IS HERE
We've been working hard this summer putting in new activities for you to enjoy. Come on out and discover what they are. Everyone who's been here has had a great time.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Labour Day Weekend

2010-09-01T12:00:00.003-04:00

Summer for students is officially ending but for us here on the farm its still full blast. We're on our last patch of beans and their at a fantastic stage right now.

We'll be open everyday Labour Day weekend from 9 till 6.

We've been busy this summer and we've got lot's happening this fall. Beginning this weekend we are reopening our Enchanted Forest available this Saturday, Sunday and holiday Monday from 10:00am till 3:00.

Our corn maze will officially open Saturday September 4th. Enter it if you dare!!!!!

Come on out and discover whats been keeping us busy.

Join us this weekend as we celebrate farming.
Our staff will be wearing special T shirts promoting the Farmers Feed Cities campaign.
Farmers Feed Cities is committed to increasing the understanding of the value that farmers contribute to Ontario’s economic physical and social health. Farmers Feed Cities is committed to ensuring a sustainable future for farmers in Ontario.

From field to fork – when the farming industry is healthy it positively impacts the province’s well being. Through increased awareness, Farmers Feed Cities encourages Ontarians to appreciate the importance of farming to Ontario. "We hope this increased accessibility to information on our farming industry will engage Ontarians to support their second largest industry – farming," continues Van Rooy.For more info check out www.farmersfeedcities.com.

We're also collecting food donations for the North York Harvest Food Bank. They pick up Tuesday so we'll store any fresh food donations in our cooler. Help get the school year off to a fresh start.

Catch Summer While you Can

2010-08-14T12:07:00.003-04:00

This summer has been flying by and with July being reported as the second hottest on record you know the crops are going to be affected. Everything is early.

Apples have begun - we have Ginger Gold, a green,tangy apple that sweetens when ripe is the best early apple I've tasted. We keep them cold to keep them crunchy as you should do for all early apples.

The sweet corn loves this heat and has been especially sweet this summer. We should have it till a heavy frost.

Tomatoes are coming in in baskets now and bushels for canning won't be far behind. We expect to have bushels by late August instead of beginning the first week of school.

Niagara peaches are amazing this year. They are so sweet and now we're into the freestone varieties so get your jam made and preserving done. Their season will be over very early in September.

Have we got beef. We've just had 2 cattle processed and our freezer is overflowing with selection. We're trying some new cuts along with marinading some as our beef is quite lean. Remember to cook it at a lower temperature for a shorter period of time. Being lean it doesn't like to be overcooked.
This month we have our burger patties on special. A good chance to check them out.

So... catch the summer while you can.

Dairy Activity Day Sunday August 8th

2010-08-05T16:02:00.002-04:00

Come join us on the farm this Sunday as we host Dairy Farmers of Canada.

Participate in ongoing activities organized by the DFC team. They will be here on the farm from 10:00 till 3:00 to help you understand where your milk and dairy products come from in a fun and informative way.

What's new in the market!
The sweet corn is now local. It's delicious. We have peaches and cream varieties that will make your mouth water.
Time to can your peaches as the season is going fast. They started early and will end early as well so don't miss out.
Nante carrots are so sweet and eagerly anticipated. We'll have some in this weekend.

Beans are the best and our crop is plentiful. Come now for some amazing green and yellow beans. They are at a super stage right now and we're picking lots. You can pick some to, just $2.00/lb.

Where's the beef? It is in our freezer and we're trying new cuts to make your summer meals special. Check out our freezer for strip loin kabob kubes, filet mignon, marinated stir fry slices and soon corned beef brisket.

ASK JOAN
We'll be having Joan Fielden in on Saturdays. She is a home economist and will be there to answer your questions and help with meal suggestions. This is a new program for our market and we'll be trying to have her available when interest is highest. Currently we are trying Saturday mornings. We'll keep you posted as this program develops further.

Special Sundays in August

2010-07-27T14:32:00.005-04:00

The beginning of August is a busy one. We have 2 special Sundays on the farm.

Sunday August 1st
is Kidsummer Day. Join the Todays Parent crew enjoying a day at the farm. They'll be bringing special sponsors to add to our fun activities. In celebration of Kidsummer we are offering a special admission price for this Sunday only - free admission for up to 3 children with each paid adult admission. It is a great opportunity to enjoy our activities. The weather report sounds promising so far. For more details go to http://www.kidsummer.com/ The google map still shows us north of Elgin Mills on Kennedy Rd. We are just south of Elgin Mills on the east side. We've been trying to get that fixed.

Civic Holiday Monday August 2nd
we are open from 9 till 6 with all our weekend activities happening. Why not, it's a holiday. Regular weekend admission rates apply.

Sunday August 8th - From Farm to Table
Join us and the Dairy Farmers of Canada for an opportunity to learn more about where your milk comes from. They will be available with activities for all visitors this Sunday August 8th (weather permitting) between 10:30 and 3:00. Their trailer and the activities will be out front of our market. Come see whats up.

Spring Blossom Honey is now here

2010-07-23T15:52:00.004-04:00

This is honey is produced in the bee hives at the north end of our Markham farm. David and Joyce our beekeepers harvested it approx. 2 weeks ago. Because of the short time from winter to harvest time, supply is limited.
Our Spring Blossom Honey is in great demand because of it's light, delicate flavour. It is also raw honey in that once spun out of the honey comb and into the collection vat, the honey is put directly into the jars without any further processing. It is neither warmed nor filtered. Raw honey does crystallize faster but the flavour is unbeatable.
Check out our honey selection. Come get some before it's gone.

Summer Crops are here before you know it

2010-07-16T15:45:00.004-04:00

I don't need to tell you that the summer has been hot. Here on the farm not only are we feeling the heat (we've a nice breeze which helps) but so are all our crops.

Our strawberries are done for the season now. We're busy getting the field ready for next year. I always recommend you start inquiring about the strawberry crop around June 15th and this year you would have been 1 week into the season. Strawberries were unusually early this year and some people were too late for the pick your own.

Sweet corn is here. It is from southwestern Ontario at the moment but will soon be from our local fields. These hot nights are making for some very sweet corn.

Special Days in August
We have 2 special event days early August.

Kidsummer is happening on our farm Sunday August 1st. Enjoy treats from the Kidsummer sponsors all put on by Todays Parent magazine.

Sunday August 8th
We are currently finalizing plans to host an educational exhibition from Dairy Farmers Canada.
It will be located on our front lawn area so all visitors to our farm and market are welcome to drop by and learn more about milk and how Canadian farmers work to feed you.

Even if you miss both these days there are always the farm animals to visit and lots to learn on the farm.

Don't let the heat stop you. We're fresher in the country.

Sweet Corn has begun

2010-07-13T14:46:00.003-04:00

Sweet corn from southwestern Ontario is becoming more plentiful. We now have some in our market. It's a sweet addition to dinner. As it gets closer to our area we will have a large supply, fresh picked each day.

Strawberries
This is our last week for strawberries. Our pick your own in Greenbank is now closed. Fresh pick berries will be available in our Markham Farm market this week.

Our beans are ready - fresh picked and pick your own
The bean crop is good right now. We have them on special for $5.00/3l basket in the market. Pick your own - they're plentiful in the field.

Raspberries
are at their peak so get them now. They are especially delicious this year with the heat but it is also the heat that will shorten their season. Don't delay.

Peaches
are here and delicious. They are clingstone varieties right now so only good for eating. The freestone varieties you can use in canning and jams will be approx. 2 more weeks.

Still Picking Strawberries in Greenbank

2010-07-07T12:45:00.003-04:00

It's Wednesday and berry picking in Greenbank is still pretty good. We're optimistic that we'll be able to open mornings this week and Saturday. The weather report looks favourable except for Friday. Call 905-985-6749 to check.

Fresh picked berries are still available in our Markham Farm market hopefully through the weekend as well.

Wild blueberries are now in. Not sure about a steady supply yet but they've at least started.

Hot enough still?

2010-07-05T15:44:00.001-04:00

This weather is not doing our crops any favours.

Strawberry Season is almost over
Our pick your own berries in Greenbank is coming to an end this week. Our hours open are variable depending on the weather and crop conditions. Picking is still good but the berries are getting smaller.
We will be open Tuesday morning 8:30am till noon if it doesn't rain. Call 905-985-6749 for the most current update.
Our Markham farm is open daily 9:00 till 6:00 and we'll have fresh picked berries for as long as possible. This will be the last week for them until the day neutral strawberries start late August.

Raspberries are here
The raspberries have begun. DON'T DELAY They don't like this heat and humidity either. Currently we have a good supply of fresh picked raspberries in our Markham Farm Market.

Looking forward to Sweet Corn
As with all crops this year sweet corn will be early. Some started under plastic is already available. We may have some in the market Friday.

Enjoy Garlic now
Ontario garlic tastes great and is now in our market. There may be another crop shortage this year so start enjoying it now.

Crops to come
blueberries, peaches, plums, nantes carrots, field tomatoes

Hot Enough?

2010-07-05T15:26:00.000-04:00

Strawberries at the Peak of their Season

2010-06-28T11:43:00.002-04:00

DON'T DELAY
Now is the time to pick strawberries at our Greenbank farm. There are so many berries they are almost jumping into the baskets.

June has been very wet so far but the weather reports are looking up with cooler, dryer weather forcasted for this week. The berries are sweet because of the heat and ripening quicker than usual.

Our late berries are starting to ripen which means approximately one more week of pick your own. We'll have fresh picked berries at our Markham farm for a while longer than our pick your own season.

Don't be disappointed!!! Pick this week.

OPEN THURSDAY JULY 1st at our Markham farm for fun and pick your own peas and at Greenbank for pick your own strawberries.

Celebrate Fathers this Sunday

2010-06-18T06:53:00.003-04:00

Father's Day Sunday June 20th
What a better gift to give than time spent together with Dad. We'll be celebrating Dads this Sunday by offering free admission to fathers of all ages when accompanied by their kids. The weather sounds like it is going to co-operate and give us a beautiful day.
We'll have pick your own sweet peas available this weekend and fresh picked strawberries are in our market. YUM!

Bumper Crop of Strawberries at our Greenbank Farm
Our strawberry crop is in full swing right now. They taste great and supply is good. Don't delay. The season is earlier this year and could end earlier. It may not extend too far into July so I wouldn't wait until the kids are out of school to come picking.

Strawberry pick your own is available at our farm in Greenbank only along with fresh picked berries. Large orders can be filled. Call 905-985-6749 for a crop report and hours open.

Fresh picked strawberries from our Greenbank farm are in our Markham market daily, weather permitting.

Strawberry Pick your Own begins Friday

2010-06-15T12:29:00.002-04:00

The season is here and the berries are beautiful, plentiful and delicious.

Our own strawberries are now available fresh picked in our Markham market. Our Markham farm is now open daily 9 till 6. Pick your own peas begin this weekend.

We will be opening in Greenbank for fresh picked and pick your own berries this Friday 8:30 am till 7:00 pm and will be open daily as crop and weather permits. Call 905-985-6749 for up to date crop reports.

Come out and enjoy!!!!!!! See you soon.

Baby Pictures

2010-05-31T18:31:00.001-04:00

Sorry - forgot to post our baby picture. He's a thirsty one.

Check our website soon for our video on this years sheep shearing.

It's been a busy month

2010-05-31T18:21:00.003-04:00

Strawberry Update
Who would have thought we'd have heat alerts in May after such a cold start to the month. This heat is bringing on the crops FAST. Peas will be early - they are already in pod and the strawberries will be ready sometime around the middle of June. Check the crop report beginning June 10th by phoning our market at 905-887-1087 or our Greenbank Farm at 905-985-6749 for up to date info on the berry and pea crops.

4 New Lambs
We've had 4 new moms this month. Ewenice had only a single lamb this year. She's the veteran among the May moms. All the other moms are first timers and their lambs are doing well. We now have out extra sheep pen beside Mud and Toots pasture pen complete and moved in our new mom and baby. Come on by to say hi.

Rhubarb
We can't end this blog without mentioning the first fruit of summer. Well, it is a stem really. Some people love and we do have it available on a limited basis. Once the strawberries begin we will try to have it on a consistent basis in our market.

The Farm is now open

2010-05-05T13:29:00.002-04:00

The animals are here, the school tours have started, the peas are 4"high and it feels like summer.
We've had 2 new kids born just in time for opening Saturday. They're doing well.

ASPARAGUS IS HERE
With this warm weather Ontario asparagus is available. We've also got huge greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet potatoes. More selection will be here as the season progresses.

CHEESE LOVERS ALERT
New this year we will have Celebrity goat cheese,(produced in Lindsay, Ont.) and Black River Cheese (produced in Prince Edward County) joining our selection from Maple Dale Cheese. Black River Cheddar uses vegetable based rennet to make their cheese, not animal based.
Check out our cooler for this enhanced selection.

Saturday May 1st is the day

2010-04-27T19:35:00.003-04:00

We're opening for the season this Saturday. The farm is looking good and green thanks to all this warm weather. The animals are awaiting your arrival.
We've got new lambs (Ewenice will be giving us more near the end of the month) and kids. The chicks are here, some are already 3 weeks old.

CHECK OUT THE CHICKENS
We have an incubator this year and if all goes well should have some chicks hatching next week. It is always a gamble but if we succeed I'll take some pictures as the chicks hatch and post them. (There will be a time delay as I'm not great with technology.)

Sheep Shearing
Speaking of technology, I took a video of our sheep being sheared. I currently have connections with a film grad student who is cleaning it up and editing so you can actually hear me telling you what is happening. Be on the lookout. I'll be posting it as soon as it is ready.

The strawberries and peas are doing well and may be early this year. We'll keep you posted.

See you soon

OPENING SATURDAY MAY 1st

2010-04-09T08:40:00.003-04:00

Wow! has winter gone by fast. We're getting ready to open for the season so hopefully the warm weather will continue. Jim has already planted some peas, the earliest ever for him.

School tours are starting soon and we are busy booking now for the spring and summer.

It has been a busy winter for us. We've attended a number of workshops and conferences to sharpen our skills and make some changes on the farm. You'll see some new activities as the season progresses, ones we think you'll enjoy. April's weather will dictate their development and when they're completed.

We've made some Shepherds Pies using our own beef. They make for an easy, quick delicious meal. They'll be in our freezer section along with our other naturally raised meat.

Kids and Lambs
The sheep and goats have been busy this winter as well. We now have over a half dozen lambs and kids born and more are expected. They are full of energy and jumping around in their pens.

Spring is a time of renewal, a season we always enjoy.

See you soon!!

Spring is early on the Farm

2010-02-19T15:18:00.002-05:00

New Arrivals
The birth of lambs is usually associated with spring but we've had some early arrivals. To date we have 2 sets of twins born. There are doing fine and have been accepted by the others in the flock.

Looking Forward to a new Season
We've just returned from a farm conference in Pennsylvania (WOW, did they get snow!) and got filled with new ideas and energy. You'll notice some changes this year, we'll be adding some new activities and refreshing some of our current ones.

We always look forward to a new season. See you May 1st.

CELEBRATE THE COMING OF CHRISTMAS

2009-11-27T14:51:00.002-05:00

CHRISTMAS TREES ARE HERE
Our Fraser Fir and Balsam Fir trees have now arrived along with a small number of pine. With the summer so wet the trees are lush and green and smell great. We have sizes ranging from table top (urn) size to over 10 feet tall.
If you wish to put up a live tree early the Frasers have the best needle retention. Ensuring you have a fresh cut on the trunk before putting the tree in its stand and checking twice daily to water it is usually enough to keep the tree fresh. We've had really good feedback from customers on our Frasers.

WE'RE NOW OPEN DAILY TILL DECEMBER 24TH
Our farm and market is now open daily 9 till 5. We will be open 9 till 6 beginning Thursday December 3rd and have a few late evenings till 7:30 weeknights during the next couple of weeks. Please call 905-887-1087 for the exact evenings open next week.

FRESH CHRISTMAS TURKEYS
We're taking orders now, it's never too early. These turkeys are delicious and raised humanely - grain fed with no animal byproducts or hormones in their feed.

INDULGE YOUR SWEET TOOTH
We're baking pies throughout December - place an order if you are having a special function, we'll bake them fresh the day you want them. Christmas Eve is a busy baking day for us so place an order to ensure you get the pies you want.
Rebecca has baked more of her Christmas cookies and party trays will be ready beginning Dec. 3rd. These are great for office parties, hostess gifts or just to have on hand for when company comes calling.

Our animals in the Barnyard Adventure area have gone to their winter home. The animals in the barn are still here for you to visit. Admission to our fun area is free till we close on Dec. 24th.
Wagon rides, the Enchanted Forest and Barnyard Adventure activities will resume when we reopen for the season the first weekend in May.

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER 24TH

2009-11-02T11:13:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone,
I hope you had a safe and fun Halloween. Thanks to all who visited the farm especially in spite of the weather.
November is a quieter time and it gives us a chance to catch our breath. We like to keep the fall look until late November but this year with all the grey weather in October you'll see some Christmas decorations earlier. The colours are so cheerful.

CHRISTMAS TREES
start arriving November 20th. We'll have mostly Fraser Fir trees this year as they have proven to be the most popular. They are the best tree to get early as they hold their needles well.

HONEYCRISP AND NORTHERN SPY APPLES
are in good supply in our market. Root crops keep well this time of year and are in abundance. Have you tried our Ontario sweet potatoes yet? They are amazing.

NOVEMBER 7TH AND 8TH WILL BE THE LAST WEEKEND OF THE SEASON FOR THE WAGON RIDES AND ENCHANTED FOREST
Weather predictions look good so far. Come on out and enjoy a nice walk in the woods. Our farm educator is also here to help you understand better where your food comes from.

CHRISTMAS TURKEYS
We are now taking orders for fresh, free range Christmas turkeys. Our Christmas baking and cookie trays will be available near the end of November.

PUMPKINS, PUMPKINS, PUMPKINS

2009-10-15T16:31:00.002-04:00

IT'S PUMPKIN TIME
We've got pumpkins in the patch, pumpkins in the corral, pumpkins everywhere. Farmer Jim is pleased with his crop of pumpkins.
Our monster pumpkins are now here. You should see the size of them.
We've got little boo's for the tikes up to pumpkins weighing over 40 lbs. Start your weight training.

It's cold outside!!!!!
Don't let the weather change your plans. Dress warmly with layers and you should be fine. Wear hats and mittens plus winter boots to keep your feet warm. Some customers are bringing blankets for the wagon rides. Who knows - it might rain next week. At least this week they are calling for sun.

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING

HONEY CRISP APPLES ARE HERE!!!!!!

2009-09-29T10:44:00.003-04:00

The waiting is over. Honey crisp apples are now available in our market. Their juicy sweet/tart flavour makes them a popular choice. They're great for eating as well as baking.

More varieties of apples are available now as well, late but now here are Macintosh, Empire, Gala and Spartan. Cortland are proving hard to get but we'll keep trying.

THANKSGIVING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!!
Don't delay in booking your free range, grain fed turkey for dinner. We're taking orders now. The week of October 5th we'll also have fresh herbs available. We'll try to have fresh Ontario cranberries, we haven't seen them in the market yet. I do have a limited supply of frozen cranberries.

HARVESTFEST WEEKENDS begin this weekend.
Come and enjoy lots of harvest fun. Check out our web page for all the details. Looks like a nice weekend coming up so come on out and enjoy the fresh air.

PUMPKINS, PUMPKINS, PUMPKINS
Our pumpkin crop is fantastic this year. There are thousands to choose from of all sizes.

The Colour of Fall
Nothing like this season for it's vibrant colours. Garden mums, gourds, pumpkins, straw bales, Indian corn and corn stalks are available to make your home look great.

SEE YOU AT THE FARM

Fall is Here on the Farm

2009-09-14T15:38:00.003-04:00

The beginning of the school year signifies to us here on the farm that fall has arrived. The corn stalks are cut for displays, pumpkins are ripening and adding colour to our courtyard and the garden mums have arrived. It is such a colourful time of year.

Honey
Our Spring Blossom Honey (also known as Strawberry Blossom ) is selling out. David and Joyce, our beekeepers have prepared the hives to enable them to harvest our Wildflower honey. This should be available in our market by the end of September. Both honeys have awesome flavour and are unheated and unfiltered (raw).
David and Joyce take great care in minding the hives keeping the bees healthy and happy. You can see the bees at work at the north end of our Barnyard Adventure area. Careful that you stay out of the bees flight path, they are very busy getting ready for winter.

Apples
Ginger gold are coming to an end, Macintosh have arrived and there will be more varieties as the season progresses. The cool summer has delayed the apples by about one week.

Tomatoes
Bushels of ripe tomatoes are in very short supply this season due to the slowness of their ripening with the cool nights. Having 2 weeks of sunshine is helping but demand far outweighs supply and you will see this reflected in increased cost.

October Fall Festival
will be beginning the first weekend in October and continue each weekend until November 1st. We're busy getting the farm ready for lots of fall fun.

Come on out while the farm is quieter and enjoy the fine weather. The corn maze is open and challenging, our Enchanted Forest has reopened and Owen our lamb is looking forward to seeing you on his weekend walks with our farm educator.
There's an abundance of colour you can take home to make your home look fabulous for the fall.

Thanksgiving Turkeys
We are currently taking orders for fresh, free range, grain fed turkeys for Thanksgiving. Book yours now so you won't be disappointed. Thanksgiving will be here quicker than you think.

Apples have begun

2009-08-19T13:53:00.002-04:00

The summer season is in it's final stretch. It is unbelievable how quickly time flies.

Our sweet corn is now locally grown thanks to the oppresively hot weather we've just had. Corn loves the heat and you could see it growing from day to day. It is such an easy meal along with burgers and field tomatoes (now also available).

Apples have begun. We have Ginger Gold (sweet) and Paula Red (tart) varieties fresh picked in our market. These early apples need refrigeration to stay crisp. Look for a number of different apple varieties over the next few weeks. Royal Gala and Jersey Macs are coming soon. Regular mac's are usually in early September, Honeycrisp mid to late September.

We're now booking for our fall school tour program for preschoolers to grade 5. Early in the season the focus is on the harvest; pumpkins make for great decorations at Thanksgiving. Book early for the best choice of dates.

With the fall tour season we are also looking for tour instructors. Application forms are available on our employment page. It is a great job for homemakers who love working with children.

August Long Weekend

2009-07-31T22:09:00.003-04:00

We will be open Monday August 3rd with all of our weekend activities, weather permitting.

This will be the last weekend for our Enchanted Forest until September. Come out and enjoy.

We will continue to have wagon rides in August every hour between 10:00 am and 3:00pm. Our admission price will reflect the nonavailability of the forest. We find August is a good month to repair and refresh the forest. It is also a very buggy month, the mosquitoes will miss you.

We now have Gourmet Sweet Peaches and Cream sweet corn. It just started today. This group of corn varieties has the sweetness of super sweets but a nicer texture and excellent corn flavour. The market is also filling up with other great Ontario fruit and veggies - GARLIC is now available. Peas, both sweet and sugar snap are still available for about one more week. The beans are great.

NANTES carrots will be available next week.

Sweet corn has started

2009-07-24T22:11:00.002-04:00

Ontario peaches and cream sweet corn is now here. We currently have corn from Waterford, Ontario. Its super sweet and delicious.

The weather has been cool and wet which has been great for our pea crop. We've now started picking our latest planting and there's lots to pick. Our green and yellow beans are now ready for pick your own as well. The cool weather extended our strawberry season and today was the last day for berries.

PEACHES, plums, raspberries, blueberries and melons are in the market. Their flavour is amazing.
Raspberry season will last approximately one to two more weeks. Don't delay. Fresh picked berries are available in the market now.

Our corn maze is growing. We will have it ready for exploring Labour Day weekend.

We'll be open for fun Monday, August 3rd. This will be the last weekend to enjoy our Enchanted Forest. It will be closed for the month of August and will reopen Labour Day weekend. We take this time to refresh the walkway and make repairs. Wagon rides will still be available August weekends between 10am and 3pm.

Strawberry Season is winding down

2009-07-09T14:14:00.002-04:00

Our last day for pick your own berries in Greenbank will be Friday July 10th. The season has been a cool one with the weather presenting a challenge. As with any other farmer we always are looking to next year being better. We have a new patch planted and are tending to it.

Fresh picked berries along with pick your own peas will still be available at our Markham Farm. We are now open daily 9 till 6. The peas have loved this weather and we've had our best crop yet. We have approximately 1 week left of pea season, don't miss it.

Sweet corn is on the horizon and should be available in approx. 1-2 weeks time. Call 905-887-1087 for current market updates on crops and activities.

Ontario cherries are here in our market now!

Mud and Toots and all the other animals will be glad to have you visit. Come and enjoy some time on the farm.

Summer is almost here

2009-06-17T20:30:00.002-04:00

We're looking forward to some summer weather to give our crops a boost. We've had hints of it this week. Our strawberry crop is coming along - the berries are at the small green stage right now.
We hope to open our Greenbank farm for pick your own berries sometime around June 26th but please call for an exact date and time. 905-887-1087

Ewenice lost one of her male lambs last Wednesday. For some reason she would not allow him to feed and our attempts to keep him nourished failed. She now has twins to raise.

Mud and Toots are now at our Markham farm and loving all the attention. The two calves especially love their bottles of milk. Both are now onto eating hay and greens as well.

School is almost done for the year. Our school tours are winding down but our Summer Fun tours for camps and daycares are booking up. Check out our Summer Fun page if your group would like to visit our farm. Any groups who have the children that are not accompanied by their parents must book a structured tour to visit the farm.

We are currently hiring for market help. We need energetic, hard working individuals that work well with people and have good english communication skills who will be able to commit to part time employment until Oct 31st. Check out our employment page for an application form and come on in for a chat.

When you are in the market check out our butter tarts. They are awesome.

Ewenice has triplets

2009-06-08T19:11:00.003-04:00

She gave us four lambs last year, this year it's three - two boys and a girl. Sunday at noon,
Ewenice gave birth to triplets and they are doing fine. We are monitoring them to make sure all are getting enough milk from mom, we may have to bottle feed one. They'll be really cute in a few days, right now they are all legs, their wool feels like popcorn kernels and they spend most of the time sleeping. Ben and Owen were visiting the farm with their families and witnessed the births, thus the two males are named after them and the female will be named Holly. Pictures will be posted soon.

COOL WEATHER IS AFFECTING CROPS

The cool weather is delaying the berry crop. We're starting to get a lot of requests for strawberries. We hope to have some fresh picked strawberries from southwestern Ontario in our market this week. Our own will not be for another two to three weeks. It is best to check in around the 15th of June. Pick your own berries will be at our Greenbank farm only this year.
The pea crop is loving this weather. Sweet peas and sugar snap (honey) peas will be ready near the end of June at our Markham Farm - fresh picked or pick your own. Call 905-887-1087 closer to the end of June for a more exact date.

WE'RE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Our busy time is coming and we will have some market positions available. Successful applicants (aged 16 years or older) need to be able to commit to working part time for the duration of our busy season which ends after October 31st. Retail experience is not essential but fluency in english, enthusiasm in working with the public and being a good team player is.
We currently have great staff and if you feel you'd like to work hard, learn new things and never be bored fill out an application form found on our website and come on in for an interview.

Handy? Would love to work on a farm?

2009-04-25T07:25:00.003-04:00

We are currently seeking someone who enjoys working with animals and interacting with people to do our weekday morning chores. Feeding the animals, cleaning pens, maintaining a safe environment. Interacting and communicating with our customers is an important part of the job. English is essential.

There can be things to fix and tractor work to be done at various times. Hours are part time mornings and can be variable.

Download an application form from our employment page and contact us.

Sheep Shearing Time

2009-04-25T07:02:00.002-04:00

Spring is here. The weather is warmer and the sheep are sheared. Off with the old wool, making room for the new. Their wool coats are already starting to grow back.
The sheep will be back in Markham to welcome visitors.
OUR FARM IS OPENING FOR THE SEASON SATURDAY MAY 2ND.

Here are our new baby lambs

2009-04-10T13:32:00.005-04:00

Here is a video of three of our newest additions. The kids just love them!

Spring is Here

2009-03-29T16:15:00.003-04:00

The weather is warming up, the snow has melted and our water hoses are thawing. We're looking forward to a new season.
Our sheep and goats have had a productive winter. We now have 7 lambs and 7 kids born in the last month. They are lively, playing together and springing straight up like Tigger's bouncing. They are a joy to watch. The mothers have been good except for two slackers. We are bottle feeding a set of twin lambs and our youngest kid, born March 26th. All three are very excited and happy to hear us coming to the barn and are doing well.
Our market will be opening for the season Saturday May 2nd. We're busy booking school tours which begin late April, making turkey dinners to sell in the market and cleaning up to be ready for the season. Our artist Gillian is painting some more signs for us.
We are currently updating our website to make it more interactive. Check out the changes. Look for the coupons.
We have decided to ignore the doom and gloom of the economy and be optimistic about the future. Still, we have decided this year to keep our admission price the same for the 3rd year in a row keeping our farm a very affordable place for the family to come and enjoy a relaxing time together.
Looking forward to seeing you in May.

Sweet Corn Time

2008-08-09T21:42:00.001-04:00

We've been enjoying fresh picked sweet corn for the past two weeks and it just keeps getting better. The peaches and cream corn are gourmet sweet varieties which have the sweetness of supersweet corn but with a nice corn taste and texture.

Summer is progressing, the variety of fruit from the Niagara area is becoming plentiful and the peaches are now freestone. Cultivated blueberries have been in big demand. They're best eaten fresh.

It would be nice if the rain stopped. There has been enough for our crops. The cooler weather is slowing down the corn crop along with our pumpkin crop. Hay has been hard to get in dry this year, we need more than 2 days of no rain to be able to cut and bale it.

Anybody want bunnies? Ours have been very productive this season and have we got babies. For a small charge of $15.00 you can take one of these cute, cuddly little bunnies home.

We're already planning for fall. We are currently hiring staff to help us this fall season. Our school tour instructor position is ideal for homemakers with children in school as the hours fit into the school hours between 9 and 2:30. We also need tractor drivers the end of September and October for our school tour program.
We've got lot's to do for a handyman who loves animals. With the students returning to school we are looking for someone to do the farm chores and help with fieldwork.
Weekends in the fall are busy and we are looking for staff who enjoy working hard with others to make our customers visits great.
Application forms can be found on our website. Download, fill them out and come in for a visit. We'd love to meet you.

Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Summertime and the fruit is here

2008-07-24T10:42:00.002-04:00

RASPBERRIES have begun. We have them available fresh picked in our Markham farm market. We are now into the second week of picking them and hope to have at least another week to go.
PEACHES and other fruit from the Niagara region have also begun. Cultivated blueberries are great on cereal and salads. They are available by the pint. We're looking forward to the wild blueberries which are great for baking.
Don't miss out on the SUGAR SNAP PEAS and SWEET PEAS. The cool and wet summer has extended their season. We're into our last planting now so enjoy them fresh from the field while you can.
SWEET CORN is starting to ripen. We hope to have some fresh picked peaches and cream corn in our market by this Friday.

The lambs are growing and Victor and Houdini are now being weened from their bottles. They've been eating hay and grain the past few weeks so their formula is now being watered down and the frequency of feeding is dropping. Kids still love to see them fed and they still love their bottle so we'll continue for a while but it will be mostly water they're drinking.

August long weekend will be the last weekend for our Enchanted Forest until September. We'll continue to have wagon rides on the weekends. The forest will be closed so we can freshen it up for the fall.

That's the news for now. Hope to see you at the farm.

Fresh Chickens now available

2008-07-12T06:36:00.004-04:00

Our first batch of free range, grain fed chickens are now cleaned, dressed and in the cooler in Markham. They're waiting for an invite to dinner.
The chicks we have for viewing in the spring are roasting chickens and some are now huge. They've had a good life in our turkey pen and we're ready to move on. If you can't make it out this weekend, you'll find some in our market freezer.

Strawberry Time is nearing an end. DON'T DELAY
Our pick your own in Greenbank will be closing for the season at 5pm Sunday July 13th. We will continue to have fresh picked berries available in our Markham farm market until approx. Sunday July 20th.

Sweet Peas and Sugar Snap Peas now available
This has been good pea weather with the cooler nights and not extremely hot days. Our sugar snap and sweet peas are ready for picking. We've got fresh picked available in our market for all to enjoy.

Pick Your Own Strawberry Season Ending Soon

2008-07-10T08:29:00.002-04:00

Sunday July 13th will be our last day open in Greenbank for pick your own strawberries. We will be open this Thurs and Friday 8 till 8 and this Saturday and Sunday 8 till 5. It has been a good berry season for us this year in spite of the stormy weather.

Picking conditions these next few days are still good with tasty berries of a good size and good picking. We want to end our pick your own season on a high note.

We will continue to have our own fresh picked berries at our Markham Farm until approximately July 19th. Don't delay in getting your jam and freezing done.

Sweet peas and sugar snap peas are good picking in Markham right now. We hope for 2 weeks of these.

Raspberries will soon be available fresh picked in our Markham Farm market.

BBQ's - A delicious tradition with family get togethers.

2008-06-27T07:14:00.003-04:00

Celebrating Canada Day gives us a good reason to connect with family, friends and neighbours. What better way then with a BBQ.
Have you tried our beef yet? We have amazing beef patties, seasoned and unseasoned that have been getting rave reviews. We've made sure we have a good supply at our Markham location for this weekend. There is also a nice selection of our steaks (we also have Leadbetters Cowboy Steaks), pork sausage and chicken. To round out your menu - new potatoes have started and there are lot's of greens for salads. Asparagus is still in season but will end soon.
We're looking forward to sweet corn which will be ready about mid July.

Strawberry Update
The picking in Greenbank is fantastic. This is the prime weekend to pick. Supply and berry size are good and the flavour - delicious.
We'll have a good supply of fresh picked berries in our Markham market. Pick your own peas are available in Markham.

HAPPY CANADA DAY

Best Strawberry Crop Jim's Ever Grown!

2008-06-25T20:21:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone,
Picking is now underway at our Greenbank Farm. Jim reports that this years crop is the best he's ever had. The plants are healthy, strong and bursting with berries. The berry's are a good size and very flavourful. The varieties we are picking now are Wendy and Cavendish.
We've had plenty of rain but we see very little stress on the crop. We have not had to spray for insects or disease so far.
Come on out. The picking is great. We are open (weather permitting) Mon to Friday 8 till 8 and Sat, Sunday 8 till 5. We'll be open Tuesday July 1st 8 till 5.

For everyone who can't pick we have fresh picked berries available at both our farms.

Sweet peas are now open for pick your own at our Markham Farm. Along with all the fun stuff to do, our sweet pea patch is ready for picking. Nothing like them for a snack. Our Markham Farm will also be open Tuesday July 1st from 9 till 6 with all our weekend activities happening.

Spending Canada Day on the farm; what a great way to celebrate our country!

Pick Your Own Strawberries in Greenbank

2008-06-20T20:34:00.002-04:00

TUESDAY JUNE 24TH we will be opening our Greenbank farm for fresh picked and pick your own strawberries. We'll be opening at 8:00 am Tuesday. The berry crop is looking fantastic and with a few warm days there'll be a bounty of ripe berries.

Fresh picked berries are available at our Markham Farm. We are open in Markham daily 9 am till 6 pm. If you wish a large # please place an order in person a few days ahead. Availability is always dependent on the weather and time of season.

Strawberries are Here!!!!!!

2008-06-18T22:10:00.002-04:00

Strawberry season is always eagerly anticipated. Strawberries are the first sweet fruit of summer and that is just around the corner. The weather this year has been a challenge but we've been lucky. Our berry crop in Greenbank has just missed hail a few times, survived two frosts (Jim was up at 2 am irrigating them to protect them from freezing) and are now getting just a little too much rain and cool temperatures. This has slowed down the ripening of the berries.

We now have fresh picked strawberries in our Markham farm market. Ours have just started and supply is somewhat limited although that will change. Supply will become bountiful as the season progresses as there is an abundance of fruit on the plants just waiting to ripen. Our patch in Greenbank looks really good this year and we're looking forward to a good season.

Markham Farm
The drought of the last two summers has done in our strawberry patch in Markham. We will have a good supply of fresh picked strawberries at our Markham location but will not have any available for pick your own there. Pick your own strawberries will be available at ourGreenbank farm only sometime after June 22nd. We will also have fresh picked berries available in Greenbank. Special orders can be placed at either location. Please give us a few days notice.

Peas (sweet and sugar snap) will be available for pick your own in Markham at the end of June and green and yellow beans throughout the summer.
Our Markham market will continue to carry a good selection of our own produce and that of other Ontario farmers along with delicious baked goods, preserves and our meat - beef, pork and chicken.

Lamb update
It has been a busy spring for lambing. 13 have been born, 2 are in need of bottle feeding. All are doing well and we're very pleased. The two bottle fed lambs are Victor and Houdini and they just love to see everyone, especially at meal times. They are two of the most coddled lambs I have ever seen.

Come and enjoy a visit. For the most up to date info call for a crop update at 905-887-1087

two new sets of twin lambs

2008-05-10T20:29:00.000-04:00

This week has been very productive for our ewes. Thursday Molly had twins, they're doing well and today, Saturday, Betty had twins. Eight lambs born to 3 moms in the past week.
Mother's day weekend is turning out to be beautiful. With the warm weather earlier in April the trilliums and marsh marigolds are blooming in our Enchanted Forest along with the trout lilies. It makes for a nice walk especially with the cooler temperatures keeping the bugs abated.
Happy Mothers Day to all moms.

Quadruplet Lambs born May 2nd

2008-05-07T08:06:00.000-04:00

After weeks of anticipation, Ewenice has given birth to quadruplets. They arrived in quick succession the morning of Friday May 2nd just in time for our season opener.
No assistance was required in the delivery but the lambs were so small they were each given two assisted feedings on their day of birth. Avery (helping out her Mom because it was a PA day) was very helpful in getting the lambs dried off and warmed up.
Mother Ewenice was not overly happy about being milked and needed farmer Susan to hold her steady so farmer Leslie was able to milk some colostrum from her. The colostrum was as thick as glue so we milked a goat to add to it making the colostrum more fluid. The lambs were given two tube feedings Friday to get them off to a great start.
They have been independent of any of our help since then except for one which gets bottle fed to supplement what it can get from mom. All are getting along and snuggle together in the nursery corner of their pen.
Thanks to Avery for her help and Brandon, her brother, who through the whole process was out in the poultry shed cleaning it for the arrival of new chicks that day enabling farmer Leslie to devote more time to the newborn lambs. Baby animals are thriving on the farm this spring.
Come on out- visit the calf, the kids, the lambs, the piglets and the chicks along with the sheep, goats, cow and laying hens.
Our market is now open for the season. The farm is open to the public in May Thursday till Sunday and Victoria Day Monday from 9:00 am till 5:00. As the season progresses the hours will expand.

it's Markham Fair time

2007-09-27T20:35:00.000-04:00

Since our last posting we have had a lamb born, a bouncing baby boy. He arrived Saturday September 15th to our ewe in the middle pen. We are expecting one more lamb to be born this fall.

Come on out and visit us at the fair. Markham Fair is a great 4 day fair, this year September 27th till the 30th. We have a tent at the east entrance.

We're gearing up for our October Harvestfest beginning Thanksgiving weekend. The staff have been training hard to make for a great harvest season. Check out our website www.forsythefamilyfarms.com the week of October 1st for more details.

Our school tours have begun and the grade 3's who have come for our soil workshop had some great weather and lot's of fun. Their mission - learn all they can about soil and then create a poem, poster, song... to teach the inhabitants of the planet TRID on how to save their planet. Healthy soil is the key to survival. There will be lot's of young students out this October for our pumpkin tours.

Welcome to our Blog

2007-09-14T11:28:00.000-04:00

This is a first for me, so be patient. We are getting for fall on the farm and looking forward to the Markham Fair and Thanksgiving. Our two acre corn maze is now open.

The cool weather is inspiring everyone to cook again and the comfort foods are here.

This blog will be our way of keeping you up to date on what's happening on the farm!