Celebrate Honey Monday August 5th

Anytime is a good time to celebrate honey and in a sense we do that each day.  It has become an annual tradition for us here at the farm to really focus on honey bees and the work they do each year on the August holiday Monday.

Use your senses to learn more about bees and the honey they produce.  Sample the different types we offer.  We still have a limited supply of our Spring Blossom honey.  Our beekeeper is preparing to harvest the first of our Wild Flower honey this week and may have it delivered by the 5th if all goes well.

Come and join us Monday August 5th for a sweet experience!

 

Raspberries have arrived

Heat and humidity - the weather related to raspberries.  The sultry days of summer are progressing and June bearing strawberries are done making way for raspberries to take center stage.  Time to make jam so that you can preserve the great taste of summer for winter.  We also have a limited supply of our own black currents.  Cherries, plums, blueberries are here as well.

Each week there is a greater selection of Ontario grown fruits and vegetables.
We began picking our green and yellow beans today in Markham and they are available for pick your own as well.

Our zucchini (they grow fast so we'll have some big ones in the market soon) is fresh picked and waiting to be taken home to the BBQ.  Get some peas, sweet and sugar snap, before they are done - they don't like this heat.

SWEET CORN BEGINS MONDAY JULY 15th.  Mmmmm... keenly anticipated - peaches and cream sweet corn is begining, fresh picked.

Summer and the Farm changes with the seasons

The seasonal changes can be seen in our market with the variety of fruits and vegetables available.  Variety is the spice of life.

Strawberries are in their last week but raspberries, cherries and blueberries are coming in. Peas are at their peak - sweet and sugar snap are bountiful right now.  Beans are just beginning as is sweet corn.

Soon the market will be jammed with an amazing selection of Ontario grown produce.  Foodland Ontario has a good chart to help guide you through the seasons of availability and we have it in our market.  Ask for one, they are a handy resource.

New in our market is SHELDON CREEK DAIRY milk and yogurt. Check out their website at www.sheldoncreekdairy.ca  We have two new dairy calves for you to visit, they arrived last week. Gingersnap is a red Holstein and Biscotti is a black and white holstein.  Seems we have a cookie theme going with our calves as they join Oreo as part of our farm family.

We're busy at Greenbank with the summer crops.  Tomatoes have been staked and tied (backbreaking but it got done) and we're trying to keep up with the weeds.  This weather is phenomenal.

Had enough rain yet?

Open Canada Day Weekend both Farms

Hot and Humid or Cool and Wet, seems there is no in-between these days.  Better than Alberta so I won't complain.

We will be open all weekend at each farm.

Our Greenbank Farm is open Saturday, Sunday and Monday 9-5 for pick your own and fresh picked strawberries and sweet peas.
Markham, we are open 9-6 for lot's of fun with all our activities available Monday.  Also beginning Monday July 1st we will have pick your own sweet peas.

Our Spring Blossom Honey will be here soon. Mmm.... a great taste of spring in the jar.  Perfect to top off your berries.

Happy Canada Day

Pick your own Strawberries and Peas at Greenbank Farm

Our Greenbank Farm is now open for pick your own and fresh picked strawberries and sweet peas.  The cold, wet weather has delayed the season but this heat wave is bringing them on.  Come soon to get the best of the crop.

Our strawberry crop is not up to what last years was.  There were lots of blossoms but not as much fruit as there should be.  May have been one of those last frosts of the seasons that did the damage.    This will relate into a shorter picking season so don't delay.  Next years new plantings are looking fabulous, as farmers we are always looking to the future.

Whenever farmer Jim wants to feel good he checks his sweet pea crop.  This spring has been perfect for them and have we got a crop of peas.  They will be available for pick your own in Greenbank now and shortly in Markham.

For exact hours and picking conditions in Greenbank 

call 905-985-6749

Strawberries- The sweet taste of summer

Long anticipated, a little late to arrive - strawberries are here!!!

We have fresh picked Ontario strawberries available in our Markham Farm Market now.  They took their time - the cooler, wetter weather causing the delay.  The berries are looking good and are consistently more plentiful although I would  recommend jam makers waiting a week till we have enough to sell by flats at a decent price.
New this year is vanilla pound cake - just what you need to enjoy a light berry dessert.

Our pick your own at our Greenbank Farm will be sometime next week.  We will keep you posted.  Our pea crop looks fantastic and we should have a good supply in a few days.  We will have pick your own peas in Greenbank along with the strawberries.

Strawberries are not the only Ontario grown produce to begin - the new crop of potatoes is now in our market along with lettuce, spinach, and garlic mmm.....

Eating from Ontario grown just keeps getting better.  Keep watch for more fruits and vegetables to come.

Fathers Day Sunday June 17th- Dads are Free

Fathers are special.  Sometimes taken for granted, not always thanked.  Sunday is a good day to pause, take time to let Dad know he is loved and appreciated, before it is too late.

This week we are mourning the loss of Jim's Dad who died peacefully and suddenly Monday at the great age of 94.  Long time customers will remember him helping out about the farm - BBQing hot dogs in the fall, selling Christmas trees, polishing apples at the Markham Fair.  He was always a source of support for us and we will miss him dearly.

Take time this week to connect with your Dad, tell him at least one thing you appreciate about him.  An investment in family time pays huge dividends.