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 

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.

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