Master Gardeners at the Ottawa St Market

With so much heat and so little rain, it's a challenging time for backyard gardeners. Luckily for you, Master Gardeners will be at the Ottawa Street Market this Saturday, July 23! They'll be available to answer your questions and give you tips from 8am to 12pm. Don't miss out!

For those of you that come by, look for the Environment Hamilton table, where we'll be distributing the brand new, 2011 version of the Passport to Hamilton adventure maps, along with the Hamilton Farm Map and Directory and other EH materials.

See you Saturday!

Rural Routes takes home agri-innovation award

Check out the video below on the recent Premier's Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence ceremony, at which Rural Routes was named an award winner! Karen Burson, who accepted the award for her work on last year's series of local farm tours, appears around 2:25.

In case you missed the coverage in the Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton Eat Local was a regional winner at the agri-award ceremony on June 24. MPP Ted McMeekin presented the set of awards on behalf of the Ontario government for the winners' efforts to strengthen the province's farming industry.

Congrats to Karen and to the whole Rural Routes team!

Rural Routes heads to Murphy's Country Produce

The sky was clear, the air was fresh and the strawberries were ripe for the picking at Saturday’s Rural Routes trip to Murphy’s Country Produce in Binbrook.

The July 9^th adventure was the first of the summer in Environment Hamilton’s series of bus trips to local farms, and it was a great success! Brian Murphy, his daughter Megan and the friendly staff at Murphy’s invited the 40 of us to harvest from fresh and plentiful fields of strawberries, raspberries, sweet peas and fava beans.

Some spent an hour and a half filling their baskets in the fields, while others took some time to enjoy the beautiful day in the shade. Before leaving the farm, everyone stopped at the market to buy whatever they had missed during the pick, or to pick up some cherries and strawberry jam.

Many thanks are due to Smart Commute and HSR for their support.

Be sure to get your tickets soon for our next trips! On August 6^th, we’re heading to Shearlea Acres in Lynden for their eighth annual Corn Fest! The Boar and Chick Farm in Troy, which specializes in meat, will be the destination for the September 10^th trip. An October trip is also in the works, though details are to be determined.

Rural Routes is back!

Get your tickets for this year’s series of bus trips to local farms! A great family outing! It’s a great chance to learn about the people and places that grow and raise your local foods. We’ve got three trips planned for the summer, with one in the works for October.

Saturday, July 9^th: Murphy’s Country Produce

Saturday, August 6^th: Shearlea Acres Farm Market

Saturday, September 10^th: The Boar and Chick Farm (see free range animals)

October: Trip to be announced

Tickets are on sale at Bread and Roses Café (27 King William Street, off James Street North). An adult ticket costs $7 and a child/senior ticket costs $5. On the day of the trip, meet at the Hamilton GO Centre (36 Hunter Street East) at 10 a.m., where we’ll board a chartered HSR bus and head to the farm. The farm visit will offer an opportunity to hear from the farmers, shop at the on-farm market and, in some cases, participate in an activity. Expect to arrive back at the GO Centre by 1:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Juby at jlee@environmenthamilton.org, or call the Environment Hamilton office at 905-549-0900.

Locke Street Farmers Market presents .... Taste of Locke

Taste of Locke

Thursday, June 9th, 6-8pm, at Fenian Films (211 Locke St S)

Locke Street Farmers’ Market is celebrating its second season by partnering with Locke Street restaurants and shops to bring you a Taste of Locke.

Come enjoy live music and samples featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients from the Market farmers. Try samples from Cheese Shoppe on Locke, Earth to Table Bread Bar, Forrat’s Chocolates, Goodness Me!, Il Fiasco, Chuck’s Burger Bar, and The Courtyard while exploring Locke Street. Return every Thursday between 3 and 7pm to stock up on fresh, local foods from the Market.
Learn more at lsfm.wordpress.com. Tickets are $15 and are available for advance purchase at Cheese Shoppe on Locke and Earth to Table Bread Bar.
Space is limited, so get your tickets soon!

Feed the Dream! Support Student Nutrition Programs

Did you know that 1 out of 4 children in Hamilton live in poverty?
Over 23,000 students receive breakfast / lunch / snack at their local school / community centre daily.

Help support these programs:

Hamilton Partners in Nutrition Presents:

Feed the Dream

in support of student nutrition programs.
Saturday June 18th
Discovery Centre
57 Discovery Drive

Auction: $30 / person
Auction and Cruise $50 / person

11:30am boarding
12:30pm cruise departs
3pm auction starts

TICKETS on SALE NOW.

feedthedream.eventbrite.com
905-522-1148 ext 0.
sprc@sprc.hamilton.on.ca

Extra produce in your garden? Become part of West Hamilton Produce Cooperative Exchange!

There is an exciting new food exchange happening! West Hamilton Produce Cooperative Exchange between gardeners
is getting started and looking for backyard gardeners interested in exchanging their produce for other goodies!

This is a way for backyard veggie gardeners to share their surplus garden produce with other local gardeners and receive some of the tasty treats from other people’s gardens. This model has been used with huge success in the southern US (North East Los Angeles)and the woman who started the original co-op there 2 years ago now has over 200 members.

There is lots more info about West Hamilton Produce Coop on their blog: westhamiltonproducecooperative.blogspot.com.

For more information, please contact Karen McLaughlin at westhamiltonproducecooperative(at)gmail(dot)com

Mountain Market is up and running - starting THIS Saturday!

With Spring in the air (finally!) the first seasonal farmers market of 2011 is open!
Hamilton Mountain Farmers Market will be open THIS Saturday May 14th from 7am - 1pm.

This market will be open until late October.

19 Viewpoint Avenue (just off Concession Street).

Farmers that will be present on opening day:
Robinsons Farm
Drummond Farm
Simpler Thyme Organic Farm
Farm Fresh COuntry Market
Trembling Aspens Herb Farm
Richardsons Farm

Products available on opening day include: apples, field greens, hot house tomatoes and cucumbers, fiddleheads, honey and more!

***
Wednesday June 15th: Ancaster Market is open!

The Ancaster Farmer's market is celebrating their second season. Think local. Think fresh. The market is located on a lovely open green space adjacent to the rail trail. Great access for biking and walking with links to the Bruce trail, Hamilton Conservation and numerous waterfalls. The wonderful vendors offer a lovely variety of fruits, vegetables, baked goods, breads, honey, flowers, plants and more. Ample parking is available, but you are encouraged to bike, walk, rollerblade or even skateboard. Every Wednesday from 3pm to 7pm starting June 15 2011 until October 05, 2011. You are invited to come out and have a visit and wander around our Heritage village core.

Ancaster Farmers Market
every Wednesday
June 15 2011 - October 05 2011
3pm - 7pm

Location
St.John's Anglican Church (behind the church on St. John's Green)
272 Wilson Street East (corner of Halson St)
Ancaster, ON, L9G 2B9
Canada
Phone:289-239-7828

Upcoming Events

Sat. May 7th: OTTAWA STREET FARMERS MARKET "MOTHERS DAY WEEKEND"

Ottawa Street Farmers Market is celebrating Mothers this Saturday May 7th from 10am-2pm.
Bring your mom to the market for a special live musical performance by "The Cardinal Newman Highschool Glee Club" and Plant a Pansy for your mom. Market staff will be helping kids plant their FREE pansies in pots to give to their moms.
The market is located at 204 Ottawa Street North. The market is open Friday and Saturday, year round from 7am-3pm.
For more information, contact info(at)ottawastreetfarmers.com

***

Thur May 12th: ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL (St. Augustine School, Dundas, ON)

Thursday May 12,
Doors open at 6pm, first film starts at 6:30pm.
St. Augustine School, 25 Alma St, Dundas, ON.

Two award winning presentations:
"Bag It: Is your life too plastic?" We see how our crazy-for-plastic world has finally caught up to us and what we can do about it.
Recommended for grades 4-12

"...And this is my garden." In the small town of Northern Manitoba, two school teachers are empowering their students with the knowledge, disclipine and skill to grow their own food in backyard gardens.
Recommended for grades 1-4

Free Admission
All welcome
Suggested donation $2 for individuals
$5 for families and / or canned goods.
Proceeds to benefit Dundas Community Food Bank and Good Shepherd Services.

PLUS! Community Shared Agriculture Exhibits and Prizes from ManoRun Organic Farm and Plan B Organic Farm.

****

THUR MAY 12th: HALTON FOOD COUNCIL's "SETTING OUR PRIORITIES" EVENT: (please note the May 9th registration deadline)

You are invited to:
The Halton Food Council's "Setting our Priorities" Forum
GET INFORMED!...GET INSPIRED!....GET INVOLVED!
Thursday May 12th from 8:30-1:30pm. Burlington, ON

St. Christopher's Anglican Church
662 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario

Learn more about community food and farm issues in Halton
Participate in creating local solutions
Help us set priorities for action

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

farmers
local food advocates
community nutrition program workers
food bank workers and food security advocates
dietitians
food distributors
anyone interested in making healthy food for all a reality for Halton

SPEAKERS

Karen Burson, Project Manager, Hamilton Eat Local, Environment Hamilton

Dr. Samina Raja, Urban and Regional Planner involved with Food Security Planning and Community Health, University of Buffalo

Halton Food Council - Members will share results of our community food assessment and will join the speakers in a panel discussion about what we can do in Halton.

YOU! - We want to hear your thoughts and priorities on community food and farming in Halton.

There is no cost to attendees for the day.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
Limited seating is available so please RSVP by May 9, 2011 by requesting a ticket.
Send this announcement on to others who may be interested in attending.
Thank you to Halton Region Health Department for funding this event.
Phone 905-825-6000 ext. 7887
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1561489457

For the 2nd year in a row Hamilton Eat Local declares FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH!

We invite you to take part in an exciting assortment of community-based events celebrating a range of issues and adventures in our vibrant local food scene.


Wednesday Feb 23rd - FRWY cafe - 333 King Street East - 7pm. BEN HEWITT! Author of the successful The Town That Food Saved, about hard-on-it’s-luck Harwick Vermont and how it’s new story captured the imagination of readers across the country. Hewitt’s memorable book examines how some of its citizens saw the development of a sustainable locally-based food economy as a powerful economic and social opportunity to bring lasting prosperity to a town that had seen better days. In partnership with: Greening our Local Economy, Beasley Neighbourhood Association and support from Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Friday February 25, 5:30 pm. FOOD & FILM FESTIVAL at FENIAN FILM - 211 Locke Street South Great food movies King Corn, The Real Dirt on Farmer John and local short feature films; locavore pizzas and more made fresh for our event by Earth to Table Bread Bar and local wines available for purchase for only $15 per person. Proceeds will support Hamilton Eat Local's "Operation Smoothie" and the Locke Street Farmers Market.

Saturday Feb 26th - 10:30am - RURAL ROUTES @ Black Walnut Lane Farm. Join us for a rugged outdoor adventure at the height of lambing season! The bus will depart @ 10:30am sharp from the Bread & Roses Café (27 King William Street) on Saturday February 26 (where you can buy advance tickets to avoid disappointment, since last year’s trips sold out!) and the bus returns to the Hamilton Farmers Market at 12:30. Tickets include the bus trips and delicious samples of Black Walnut Lane lamb products: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for kids. Presented by Hamilton Eat Local and Smart Commute.

For more information check out Environment Hamilton's website:
www.environmenthamilton.org