Market
The seasons on our farm are clearly evident in our market by the produce we sell. Our market features our own and other locally grown fruits and vegetables. You can truly enjoy the abundance that Ontario family farms have to offer as the growing season progresses. We’ll be growing our own heritage tomatoes again this year. That fresh from the field taste just can’t be beat.
Last year our laying hens in the barn produced omega 3 eggs. The hen’s diet is enhanced with flax seed which translates into a higher percentage of Omega 3 in the eggs. The eggs begin on the small side but as the hens mature they get bigger. By Christmas we have extra large eggs. Our eggs are cleaned, candled and in the cooler for sale the same day they are laid. There is nothing like the taste of a fresh egg. The cost changes through the season as we price the eggs according to their size. We try to reuse our egg cartons and would appreciate any contribution from you.
Along with our own pork and chicken (limited supply, we do have a call when ready list), our pasture raised beef is available all season long in our market’s freezers. To enhance our selection we have made a variety of meat pies (using our own meat) and have local, free range, grain fed chicken breasts, Leadbetter’s Cowboy Steaks as well as other quick meal items.
Our homemade jams and preserves are made by a number of small Ontario family businesses. Our honey is produced on our farm using the least invasive and most organic practices possible. The flavour is amazing. Our early harvest honey – Strawberry Blossom Honey is usually available by mid to late July. We have a limited supply so don’t delay. Our Wildflower Honey is harvested early fall and is available by late September. If the bees have had a better winter than in 2007 we will have an observation hive in the market for you to see the bees at work.
Mmmm, try our pies! They’re baked fresh in the market. We also have cookies, Chelsea buns, coffee cakes (made using our own fruit) along with shortcake (using our own eggs) and other goodies available in our bakery. Top them off with some Kawartha Dairy ice cream – the best ice cream I’ve ever eaten. It’s made with 100% Canadian dairy products; milk and cream are the first two ingredients.
Spring
Ontario Greenhouse vegetables and root crops such as onions and potatoes along with fresh apple cider are still available in the spring. The month of May welcomes in the new crops of rhubarb and asparagus.
The tartness of rhubarb is a great addition to the fruits of summer. Enjoy a tangy rhubarb pie. Make sure you take the time to freeze some for its season is done by the end of June. It is so easy to do. Just wash the rhubarb, then snip to the length you want using scissors, bag and freeze it. Rhubarb tastes great combined with strawberries, raspberries or blueberries and is delicious in coffee cakes.
Summer
Fruits and vegetables make for a cool, quick summer meal. Mid June the sweetness of summer is celebrated with strawberries followed by raspberries in July. Their season is short so enjoy them while you can. Day neutral or fall bearing berries are available again late August for a few weeks lasting into September, depending on the weather. Sweet peas and sugar snap peas are great as snacks or cooked fresh picked from the field. Who can resist the sweetness of new potatoes? I love it that I don’t have to peal them; the skin adds such great flavour. Fresh picked Ontario sweet corn begins around mid to late July depending on the weather. Green and yellow beans begin mid July and by staggering plantings stay with us till frost. They are our main pick your own crop of the summer. Peaches and other tender fruit from the Niagara region are a highlight of the summer and are available early August to mid September. Summer is BBQ season and time to try our hamburger patties and made with our own pasture raised beef. Seasoned or unseasoned, they’re big, juicy and taste great especially toped with a slice of beefsteak tomato.
Thanksgiving
Isn’t it just the best time of year? The weather can be amazing and of course the food is fantastic. Take time to celebrate the bounty of the harvest. We have over 10 varieties of apples featured in our market, including Honeycrisp. Our fresh apple cider is flash pasteurized and delicious.
We also have free range, grain fed turkeys available by special order. Get out your shopping list; everything you’d want for an incredible Thanksgiving dinner is produced in Ontario. Ask us how to make your own cranberry sauce. It’s easy and tastes great with Ontario grown berries. Thanksgiving time is not only a delicious time, it is beautiful. Check out our display of garden mums, straw bales, gourds, corn stalks and pumpkins galore. The Indian corn is colourful adding beauty and interest to any door or wall.
November
This is a quieter time but don’t forget about us. Apples are still plentiful along with the winter storage vegetables such as squash, potatoes, onions and our Nantes carrots (the sweetest variety I’ve ever tasted). Our meats and baked goods will round out an amazing meal; comfort food for the cooler, greyer days of autumn.
December
Oh the excitement of the coming of Christmas. Traditional baked goodies are available by the beginning of December. Our cookie trays are great for office parties, as hostess gifts, or just adding some variety to the goodies you’ve already baked. Fresh, free range, grain fed turkeys are also available by special order. Don’t forget to place your “stock up the freezer for winter” orders for we close December 24th and don’t reopen until the first weekend in May.
Our fresh cut Christmas trees in the courtyard make it smell like you’re in the middle of a forest. We have beautiful, fresh cut Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir and Spruce trees available from 3 feet to 11 feet tall. Need a fresh cut before taking it home? No problem. It’s our pleasure to ensure you have an amazing tree to help celebrate the holidays.
As with the rest of our farm, we’ve an area in the market for the kids. Our playroom features a play table with farm tractors and toys to keep your kids busy. Farm toys are also available for sale along with items related to nature. Make our market part of your farm visit. Your stomach will thank you.
We accept cash, VISA, MasterCard and Interac in our market.
No Smoking, No Outside Food and No Dogs