Thanks to our Fruit Tree Project Volunteers

On Monday Environment Hamilton was invited to pick cherries in the back yard of a generous local Hamilton resident.

This is part of the Fruit Tree Project where volunteers have to opportunity to connect with our food systems and work with local farmers or residents who need help collecting their harvest.  This time around we picked significant harvest from two cherry trees.

All the volunteers took home a trove of cherries and we had enough left over to donate to the Melrose United Church and the Eva Rothwell Centre. 

To take part of this project as a volunteer or to provide produce to pick please contact Environment Hamilton at 905 549 0900 or Juby Lee at jlee [at] environmenthamilton.org.

Rural Roots is a SMooShing Success

It's easy to feel glum about how factory farms treat the animals we use to make produce but Saturday's rural routes trip was an inspiring experience.

We arrived to San Barr farm in sustainable style, as usual, on a stretch bus provided by Hamilton Street Rail.  Upon arrival long horn farmers Josh and Jordan greeted our group and educated us on the intricate details of their trade.

Texas Longhorn Cattle are a magnificent species which produce the leanest beef you can find.  San Barr's stock is clearly happy and healthy and many of us purchased their heart healthy ground beef which they sell at $5 per Lb.

From San Barr our group walked over to the Boar and Chick Farm next door where we got to see a wide variety of ethically raised farm animals including: pigs, chickens, cows, horses and sheep!

Don't miss out on our next Rural Routes trips including:

Saturday, July 7th - Organic chicken producer, Fenwood Farm and Organic veggie grower, Scotscraig Farm.

Saturday, August 18th - Heirloom veggie grower, Waterhall Farm.

We depart at 10:30am sharp - 27 King William St.
Tickets are $5 for seniors $7 for adults
Tickets are sold at Homegrown Hamilton. Cash only please.

For more information call Environment Hamilton at 905 549 0900.

Toronto Food Security Tour

*CORRECTION* The Food Security Tour takes place on July 5th not July 12th.

Environment Hamilton presents the 2012 Toronto Food Security Tour.  During this fantastic event food conscious Hamiltonians will have the opportunity to learn how Toronto is producing and sharing healthy, local food.  Be prepared to be inspired!

The first destination on the tour is appropriately called “TheStop”.  Here we will explore an influential project which acknowledges the inseparable relationship between food and community.   They do a great job providing frontline services to their local community, including a food bank, perinatal program, community action program, bake ovens and markets, community cooking, community advocacy, sustainable food systems education and urban agriculture. 

The Stop Community Food Centre: An Introduction from The Stop Community Food Centre on Vimeo.

Following The Stop we will be taking the bus over to FoodShare for lunch and a tour.  Food Share has been at the forefront of community building since 1985.  The organization has worked toward ensuring that all people not only have access to food, but that we have access to healthy food.

Finally, the tour will end at the Dufferin Grove Park Farmers’Market.  We will be guided through the inner workings of this Toronto farmers’ market, famous for its outdoor oven.

The tour will take place Thursday July 5^th and is an all day event.   The cost will be $15 dollars and that includes three guided tours and lunch.  Expenses for transportation are not included.  We will be taking Go Transit to travel to Toronto and then TTC to travel within Toronto.  The bus departs from the Hamilton Go Station (map) at 7:40 sharp.

Please contact Environment Hamilton at 905 549 0900 or kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org for more information and to RSVP.  Spots are limited so reserve your place as soon as possible!

Taste of Locke a GREAT success at the Locke Street Farmers' Market

On Sat. June 16th, 8 local restaurants and food shoppes prepared tasty samples using local farmers market ingredients.

NaRoma with their Sweet Potato Pizza - SOOO many people LOVED this!

Others included: Bread Bar, Cheese Shoppe on Locke, the Courtyard, Forrats Chocolate, Bitten, West Town and Il Fiasco.

The Market's newest addition - Munchies Barkery, they bake treats for humans and dogs!

The Locke Street Farmers' Market is located on Locke St and Herkimer and will run every Saturday until October from 11-2pm.

Even in the Rain Hamilton's Farmers' Markets Shine

There has been a lot of activity in the last week at Hamilton's Farmers' Markets despite constant rain.  Saturday saw the opening of the Locke Street Farmers' Market in their new location at the corner of Locke and Herkimer in the Locke Street Auto parking lot.  The farmers and restaurants on Locke St are preparing for next Saturday's Taste of Locke food festival where eateries along Locke St will be preparing mouth watering delicacies prepared from local ingredients provided by farmers' market vendors.

Also on Saturday at the Ottawa Street Farmers' Market the rain didn't stop kids from having fun at the Oliver's Garden Project where the little sprouts could plant seeds, learn yoga and take part in a cooking demo.

Dundas Farmers' Market opened with a bang as thunderstorms rocked the Hamilton area.  However, Dundas residents still came out to support their local Farmers.  Here is Mike from Paterno Nurseries taking shelter from the rain.

 Fenwood Farm was also out selling their organic Chicken and Pork products to a happy customer. 

 

Scotscraig Farm was also busy selling their seasonal produce.

 

 Both Scotscraig and Fenwood farms will be local stops on the Roural Routes bus tour on Saturday, July 7th.  Tickets are available at Homegrown Hamilton.

Malcolm and Kathie from Scotscraig Farm were nice enough to share a great seasonal recipe:

GARLIC SCAPE AND ALMOND PESTO SAUCE (one cup)

10 garlic scapes, finely chopped

1/2 cup parmesan

1/3 cup slivered almonds (toasted or not)

1/2 cup olive oil

Sea salt to taste

Simply blend all the ingredients in a food processor, a blendor or with a mortar and pestle!

Click here for a complete list of everything you need to know about Hamilton's many farmers' markets.

Rural Routes is Back!

Environment Hamilton is organizing a bus trip to the SanBarr and the Boar and Chick farms on Saturday, June 23rd, 2012.  The HSR bus leaves from Homegrown Hamilton at 10:30 am sharp and returns at 1:30 pm.  If you are interested in learning where your food comes from and meeting the local farmers who do all the hard work then please come out.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children under 12.  You can pick up your tickets from Environment Hamilton (map find us on the 2nd floor) and Homegrown Hamilton (see map below).  These are hot tickets and they will sell out so come get them soon!

For more information call Environment Hamilton at (905) 549-0900. 



View Larger Map

Check out the Ottawa Street Farmers' Market!

The Ottawa Street Farmers' Market is a fantastic source of local food open 7 am to 3 pm every Saturday all year long.

The market is full of friendly vendors and rhubarb and asparagus are two new freshly harvested edibles on sale this spring.

Early strawberries are also newly available and they look fantastic!

And if you haven't started planting your own garden already there is an enormous variety of seedlings available.

You can find the Ottawa Street farmers' market near 204 Ottawa Street North in a parking lot on Britannia Avenue between Ottawa and Carlisle.  Check the website regularly for information about the fresh products available during every season.

As of August 2013, the market is now open every Saturday from 7-3pm, year round.  

Tis the Market Season! Check out when our local seasonal markets are starting in 2012

With a mild winter and wonky spring, we are looking forward to having the normalcy of attending markets and seeing our farmers and friends.

Here is a list of our local farmers' markets:

Ancaster Farmers' Market START DATE: Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Every Wednesday until October 31st, from 3pm to 7pm
272 Wilson Street East, Ancaster.
Contact Market Managers: Leah Higens or Karen Wilkens at 289-239-7828 info@ancasterfarmersmarket.com
Re-establishing a 200 year old tradition, the Ancaster Farmers Market will be back for its fourth year in the Heritage Village Core.
www.ancasterfarmersmarket.com

Binbrook Farmers' Market -  START DATE: Saturday June 9th, 2012 Open Saturday Mornings from 8am to Noon in 2012, rain or shine, starting mid June until Labour Day weekend at the Binbrook Fairgrounds.
The Binbrook Farmers Market is a community meeting place for residents to purchase local fresh food products.  It is a place for the local farmers to inform the new residents of our community what produce are available and to promote their own farms.
bfm@binbrookfair.org
Contact Market Manager, Linda at: 905-692-3543
twitter.com/BinbrookFarmers
www.binbrookfair.org/bfm

Burlington Mall Farmers Market - START DATE: Wednesday May 2nd, 2012
The Market is Open from May to October
Wed.  8 - 2       Fri. 8 - 4       Sat. 8 - 2
The market is located in the Burlington Mall parking lot, on the Prospect Street side of the mall, south of the Zellers Store.
Freshest Available Produce
Come see our fresh produce, baking, cheeses, meats, eggs, plants, flowers, healthy prepared foods and Smiles!! 
This market has been running for 50 years now.
burlington.mall.farmers.market@gmail.com
www.burlingtonmallfarmersmarket.com

Dundas Farmers' Market  - START DATE: Thursday June 7, 2012
and continuing every Thursday from 3pm to 7pm through October 25, 2012
A showcase of local food.  A city parking lot transformed into a market offering local veg, fruit, honey, maple syrup, dairy, baking, breads, preserves, lamb, chicken and prepared local foods. Great atmosphere with community spirit.
The Dundas Farmer’s Market is conveniently located in Municipal Parking Lot 7D at Hatt Street and Miller’s Lane
Contact Market Manager, Lisa for more information: 905 975-9968.
http://www.downtowndundas.ca/dundas-farmers-market.php


Grimsby Farmers' Market START DATE: Thursday May 31st, 2012
Every Thursday to October 11, 2012 from 3pm to 7pm
Main Street between Christie and Ontario Street, Grimsby, ON
Our market was established in 2008 in response to a growing demand by the residents of Grimsby to enjoy the freshness of local products from the Niagara Region.
Contact Market Manager, Michelle Seaborn at: 905-945-7963
mseaborn@silmaril.on.ca
www.grimsbyfarmersmarket.ca/index.cfm

Hamilton Farmers' Market (downtown) START DATE: year-long, indoor
Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, please check website for hours.
35 York Blvd. Hamilton.
Events and cooking programs include:
Free Saturday Morning Programs: Kids in the Kitchen & Market Fresh Cooking Demonstration
Cooking classes and educational demonstrations
905-546-2096
farmersmarket@hamilton.ca
www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Arts_Culture_And_Museums/HamiltonFarmersMarket

Hamilton Mountain Farmers' Market START DATE: Saturday May 16th, 2012
Every Saturday until late October.  From 7am-1pm.  Sacred Heart Church Parking Lot, 19 Viewpoint Ave, Hamilton.
Selling of locally grown food and food products.
Contact Market Manager, Chuck at: 905-383-3280
During the growing season, the Mountain News will list all the produce available each market day.
Go to www.hamiltonnews.com and search Hamilton Mountain Farmers' Market.

Locke Street Farmer's Market START DATE:  Saturday June 9th, 2012
The market has changed to Saturdays and will be from 10am-2pm until mid October.
Come see us in the heart of Locke Street.
We are growing market with lots of heart!
Find us on facebook!  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Locke-Street-Farmers-Market/201207083224748
lsfm.wordpress.com

McMaster Farm Stand  START DATE: *starting in beginning of July, dates/times subject to change*
The Farmstand operates on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM.
We are located in front of the University Hall’s Nina de Villier’s garden in the middle of campus.
Mac Farmstand is an initiative coordinated by the McMaster Students Union, in partnership with McMaster Sustainability and McMaster Hospitality Services. We are McMaster’s Farmers’ Market!
Contact Alvand at: farmstand@msu.mcmaster.ca


Ottawa Street Farmers' Market START DATE: Year round (Hamilton's only year long outdoor market)
204 Ottawa St. North.  Fridays and Saturdays from 7am-3pm.
From our field to your table whats at market: grower/producers, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that were picked the night before or morning of market.  Delicious baked goods and other added value items such as coffee and we have lots of food trucks that come for a visit too!
Contact Elisha, Market Manager at: info@OttawaStreetFarmers.com
www.ottawastreetfarmers.com

***Please note, while we did our best to be as accurate as possible, please check with your market for hours and dates.***

Congrats to Cory and Heidi Van Groningen

VG Meats producer, Cory and Heidi Van Groningen won the 2012 Ontario Outstanding Young Farmers' Award.

"Something that we are really proud of" Cory states about the recent announcement that he, alongside his wife, Heidi won.

The Van Groningens received the top honour at the provincial awards ceremony held in Niagara Falls on March 27. Winners of the award are chosen based on career progress; environmental and safety practices; crop and livestock production history; financial and management practices; and contributions to society.

Background (taken from their website)

Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Program (OYF) is a unique program designed to recognize farmers and farm couples who exemplify excellence in their profession.

The program was founded in 1979 by the Canadian Junior Chamber/Jay-cees and is open to farmers or couples who derive at least two-thirds of their income from farming operations.

VG Meats is a family operation - with their farm located in Simcoe and their recently opened VG Meats shop in Stoney Creek. For more information about VG Meats, click here.

Art Show by farmer Pat Kozowyk

Farmer Pat of Babalink Farm is co-hosting an art exhibit!

Opening night - Friday. April 13th @ 7-9:30pm
Carnegie Gallery - 10 King St. West

The exhibit will run from April 7th-29th