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The snow is here early and everyone is off to an early start. It seems time speeds up when preparing for special occasions.
We have beautiful Fraser and Balsam Fir trees along with pine and spruce. Our courtyard is transformed into a forest - oh the smell - awesome! The wet fall has kept the trees lush and green. Along with the trees we have garland and wreaths to help you make your home look and smell special.
A cup of hot apple cider is waiting for you in the market. Lynda has been making up our Christmas cookie trays and pies are in the oven baking.
Traditions - they are what connects us all.
Many of you have been coming for all 27 years that we have been open at our Markham Farm on Kennedy Rd. Christmas is so traditional and sometimes it is the only time you visit us. Each year it seems I am reconnecting with friends, watching the kids grow and over the years come back with kids of their own. That is what makes this season so special to me.
As with life there are bends in the road and we are at a turning point in ours. After 27 years here on Kennedy Rd. we have been given notice of termination of our lease. This is our last season in Markham, the farm will officially close December 24th. Winter will be busy moving everything up to our Greenbank Farm where we will continue to be open for our strawberry, pumpkin and Christmas seasons.
There will be some changes, we haven't fully developed them. You will be able to see Dan at the Markham, Oshawa Centre and Whitby Farmers Markets along with his CSA. James is applying for the EG Farmers Market at Green Lane and Yonge St and there may be more. We will still be at the Markham Fair as well.
With that said we would love for you to visit - Customer Appreciation Days are the last 2 weekends before Christmas. Come in for a chat, bring a picture from your visits on the farm. We are making a memory board of the farm and would love for you to contribute.
We look forward to your visit.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
October Harvest Festival Happenings
Fall is now in the air with the cool breezes and cold nights. Halloween is quickly approaching and the fun continues. Our pumpkin crop has been amazing this year - in quality, size and numbers. Our pumpkin corral just keeps filling up to give you a great selection of pumpkins.
This will be the last weekend for our October Harvest Festival. Weather permitting we will have all our activities happening including pony rides and horse drawn wagon rides. Dress for the weather, dress to have fun. We are cooler on the farm with the open fields.
Sunday October 27th is special with Geissbergers Farmhouse Cider arriving with their award winning mobile cider press. We have over 4 bins of apples to press into cider and you can view the process. Come see how it is done. The fresh cider will be available for purchase at the farm.
The apples are fantastic this year. We now have over 7 varieties available in the market, fresh picked, including Honey Crisp, Ambrosia, Jona Gold and Fugi to name a few. We also have some incredible Bosc pears.
Come and enjoy. Our farm will be open until December 24th.
This will be the last weekend for our October Harvest Festival. Weather permitting we will have all our activities happening including pony rides and horse drawn wagon rides. Dress for the weather, dress to have fun. We are cooler on the farm with the open fields.
Sunday October 27th is special with Geissbergers Farmhouse Cider arriving with their award winning mobile cider press. We have over 4 bins of apples to press into cider and you can view the process. Come see how it is done. The fresh cider will be available for purchase at the farm.
The apples are fantastic this year. We now have over 7 varieties available in the market, fresh picked, including Honey Crisp, Ambrosia, Jona Gold and Fugi to name a few. We also have some incredible Bosc pears.
Come and enjoy. Our farm will be open until December 24th.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Macintosh, Honey Crisp and Gala Apples are here
Long anticipated and seemly late the first main season crop of apples are now available in the market. Honey Crisp, Gala and MacIntosh apples arrived this weekend. Crispy, these fresh picked apples are from Graceview Farms in Port Burwell. We are once again getting our apples from John. His apples were great last year and we're off to a good start this year.
Come, enjoy the crunch.
Come, enjoy the crunch.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Feels like Fall, there go the summer crops
Hot one day, cold the next and now frost warnings in cottage country. Puts the pressure on to enjoy those last fruits and vegetables of summer before they are gone with the season. Fall is officially just around the corner.
Tomatoes are one of those crops and our market is bursting with them at the moment. A customer passed on an amazing recipe today that I will definitely try.
Slow Roasted Tomatoes
Heat oven to 300 degrees
- cut the tomato in half, place cut side up on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
- drizzle lightly with olive oil
- add slice of garlic
- optional - sprinkle with seasoning such as basil
- roast in oven for 3 hours
Fall also means celebrating the harvest. Time marches quickly and Thanksgiving will be here in the blink of an eye. Time to order your fresh, free range turkey.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Tomato Harvest is at its Peak
It's been a fantastic year for our tomatoes; for quality and flavour. Our market is bursting with tomatoes and now is the time to catch the freshness and flavour the summer sun has given them.
So get your canning jars ready. Capture the taste of summer as we move on into the fall harvest season.
Report just in from Farmer Jim -
We have a dandy crop of pumpkins and October will be amazing this year. He's been out in the field checking on them and is very pleased.
Got to love the fall with all its colour. We already have the beauty of the mums to enjoy and the leaves will be turning soon. Our squash is adding even more colour to our courtyard.
Our fall school tour program is gearing up and Myrna is in the office to help you book your tour.
So get your canning jars ready. Capture the taste of summer as we move on into the fall harvest season.
Report just in from Farmer Jim -
We have a dandy crop of pumpkins and October will be amazing this year. He's been out in the field checking on them and is very pleased.
Got to love the fall with all its colour. We already have the beauty of the mums to enjoy and the leaves will be turning soon. Our squash is adding even more colour to our courtyard.
Our fall school tour program is gearing up and Myrna is in the office to help you book your tour.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
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.
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
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Ginger Gold Apples are Here
I love the start of apple season. There are many early apples, my favorite is Ginger Gold; it is crunchy and sweet. For all you tart apple lovers we have a small amount of Paula Red apples, they are just starting to be harvested.
Time flies and before you know it September will be here, Macintosh apples will have started and we'll be well into a multitude of apple varieties. We are sourcing our apples from the same grower as last year. John Hordyk is located in Port Burwell. Jim developed a good relationship with him last year during the apple shortage. Liking his quality he will support him once again this year.
John grows amazing pears as well and we will be sourcing our Flemish and Bosc pears from him. Something to look forward to.
Tomatoes Have Begun
Depending on the day you can look out the back door of our market and see an expanse of tomatoes in bushels along with staff trying to wash, sort and basket them. Our crop is looking fantastic so far and Jim is working hard at keeping it that way. Check out the abundance we have of cherry tomatoes, round and even roma varieties. We will soon be into canning season.
Sweet Peas
Who would have thought they'd be sweet and plentiful in August especially since they got fried in July. These past two weeks of beautiful, cooler weather has allowed a late crop of peas to flourish and we're enjoying them immensely. Get them before they are gone. You can even pick your own.
Celebrate Honey
Another successful day on the farm. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about bees and honey in a fun and tasty way. Mark your next years calendar for the civic holiday Monday Celebrate Honey on the farm day. Here is Rebecca with the beekeeping equipment.
Time flies and before you know it September will be here, Macintosh apples will have started and we'll be well into a multitude of apple varieties. We are sourcing our apples from the same grower as last year. John Hordyk is located in Port Burwell. Jim developed a good relationship with him last year during the apple shortage. Liking his quality he will support him once again this year.
John grows amazing pears as well and we will be sourcing our Flemish and Bosc pears from him. Something to look forward to.
Tomatoes Have Begun
Depending on the day you can look out the back door of our market and see an expanse of tomatoes in bushels along with staff trying to wash, sort and basket them. Our crop is looking fantastic so far and Jim is working hard at keeping it that way. Check out the abundance we have of cherry tomatoes, round and even roma varieties. We will soon be into canning season.
Sweet Peas
Who would have thought they'd be sweet and plentiful in August especially since they got fried in July. These past two weeks of beautiful, cooler weather has allowed a late crop of peas to flourish and we're enjoying them immensely. Get them before they are gone. You can even pick your own.
Celebrate Honey
Another successful day on the farm. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about bees and honey in a fun and tasty way. Mark your next years calendar for the civic holiday Monday Celebrate Honey on the farm day. Here is Rebecca with the beekeeping equipment.
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