FUN and FOOD defines Labour Day Weekend

Labour Day weekend - The defining weekend between summer and fall when we get back to our regular routines after the summer break.

For us on the farm it means the tomato crop is coming on strong, fresh picked apples have arrived and the bins of squash are coming in filled from the field.  Many of the summer crops such as beans and sweet corn are still available, but the farm is definitely taking on the look of fall with the pumpkins ripening in the field and the garden mums giving us colour in our courtyard.

Our ENCHANTED FOREST AND 2 ACRE CORN MAZE ARE NOW OPEN
You've been watching the corn grow all summer, now it is ready for you to enjoy and I don't mean by eating it.  Feed corn can be a very tall plant and we use it for our maze because of it's strength and height.  Farmer Jim enjoys making the maze as challenging as possible, we make it harder by adding 5 stations for you to find so you can find your fortune with your fingers.

Our Enchanted Forest has changed over the years.  The storybook scenes have always fascinated and enchanted you on the walk, now with close to 20 years of growth the forest has taken on an enchantment of its own. There are few things more peaceful than walking in the woods.

JOIN US THIS LABOUR DAY WEEKEND.  

We are open Saturday, Sunday and Monday 9 till 6 

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?

SWEET CORN IS HERE!!!!!!!!

It is Awesome in name and flavour. Awesome is a gourmet sweet, peaches and cream corn that is a nice combination of sweetness and corn flavour. With proper refridgeration it should stay sweet for a few days. For optimal flavour it is still best to only get what you can eat that day. Currently the corn is from Tillsonburg (southwest Ontario) and as the season progresses in a couple of weeks it will be from our area. PEACHES should also be headlined. With the hot weather I am finding they are sweeeeeeter than usual. This is turning out to be a very sweet posting. I love this time of year for eating as there is a nice selection of berries (yes we still have a few raspberries, don't delay) and tree fruits such as peaches and plums, nectarines and apricots should be in soon. The potatoes are sweet, the carrots, FIELD TOMATOES HAVE STARTED,and they're sweet. The list goes on. Pick your own beans from the field here in Markham, looks like some peas may be ready in the field soon. OUR SPRING BLOSSOM HONEY IS ARRIVING TODAY. Eagerly anticipated and not to be missed the first harvest of the season from our bee hives is coming into the market today. Relish the season - There is an abundance of cucumbers and zucchinis from our fields right now and NOW is the time to make your relish. Don't wait till you feel like it because these crops are fickle and may not be available when you want them. ACT NOW and you'll be glad this winter as you enjoy the taste of the summer harvest in a jar. With the cooler weather here for a few days come on out to the farm. ENJOY THE SWEETNESS OF SUMMER AND THE FUN. Who knows how long before the next heat alert.

Summer is in full swing and its HOT

I know I don't have to tell you just how hot!!! What has it done to the crops? They're growing fast along with the weeds, are ready sooner than expected and ending faster than we want. Strawberry season was a success, we had berries up until Thursday - longer than most growers in the GTA. We'll be getting the field ready for next year as next years fruit buds form in August. We've been spending a lot of time keeping the weeds from overwhelming our crops with some hand pulling and trimming with the weed wacker. Cultivating the fields has become a full time job. Crops we are harvesting right now are- beets, zucchini, cucumbers and beans. You'll find Dan and Molly Wednesdays at the Whitby Farmers Market, and Saturdays at the Markham Farmers Market. James is at the Oshawa Centre Farmers Market on Fridays. Our Greenbank Farm market is open for the season Thursday to Sun from 9 till 5. This is the first year we have remained open after strawberry time. Come visit and see what we are up to. Weekday wagon rides are proving popular, they are available 11:30 till 1:00 at our Markham farm. We are looking forward to SWEET CORN. The early varieties are in but we just don't find them sweet enough. In our opinion anticipation is sweetly rewarded by waiting at least a week for the corn to be trully delicious. We will have peaches and cream sweet corn our markets by Friday July 20th.

Corn Maze is Opening

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.

Petra Kvitova visits the farm

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?

Sweet Corn is here

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.