We came just in time as they experienced the first frost of the season and the first freezing, so it was the last market day for them.
This is an amazing farm, as they farm very small scale, giving them the freedom to try anything. Alongside their established cold houses, maple syrup bush, 3 acre veggie garden, fruit trees, they also talked about the challenges, for example, they had to let go of their cattle, as the dry summer caused the price of straw bales to increase, when the cost rose from $2 / each last year up to $8, meant that it was too expensive to keep their cows.
As farmers, they have decided to focus on growing food for themselves and for their on-farm market that, when open during the growing season, will allow buyers access to 100 different varieties of fresh produce. They are keeping it simple in order for their farm to stay dynamic :)
Left photo: Farmer Bill shows us what leaf matter turns into after one year.Right photo: Farmer Charles and one of their ducks meets a couple of our younger participants.
Thanks to Ann, Bill and Charles for taking the time to tour us around - they always welcome our groups and give us so much of their time. Thanks to Shahira for connecting us all to the participants and of course, thanks to all the participants who joined us! Special thanks to Hamilton Community Foundation for their support!
Here is a little more about the farm:
Simpler Thyme Organic Farm
Ann Lanigan
1749 Hwy 6 North, RR 2
Hamilton, ON L8N 2Z7 (near Freelton)
905-659-1576
simpler_thyme@hotmail.com
Offer seasonal Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) as well as workshops on our farm. They grow a great variety of organic vegetables and small fruits, as well as eggs, herbs and maple syrup (seasonal). The farm market is open on Thursdays from May to November 1st, from sun-up to sundown.
2 comments:
I love learning about local farms, this is great information and I will be keeping this farm in mind for when they become open during the season again.
I am becoming very interested in finding local farms that I can buy my produce from directly, especially in the spring and summer season.
I really enjoyed this blog. It's great to find more and more local farms around the area.
I am becoming very interested in buying my produce directly from the farm and this gives me another contact! thank you!
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